It's flu vaccine time again. We've never gotten the flu shot for my egg allergic son, but this year the consensus in the medical community seems to be that most people with egg allergy can tolerate the vaccine. We will be doing a flu desensitization at the allergist's office on Monday. That involves a skin test with a control and the actual vaccine. Depending upon the results of that, the vaccine may be administered all at once, or in smaller doses.
We always have the doctor's office order Thimerasol-free flu vaccine for our family. No need for extra mercury, right? I found this link recently that lists each flu vaccine manufacturer and the amount of egg (ovalbumin) and thimerasol in their serum.
Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about egg or mercury in your shot.
...and wish us luck on Monday...
Showing posts with label egg allergy and flu shots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label egg allergy and flu shots. Show all posts
New Flu Vaccines Safe for Egg Allergic
The 2009 swine flu scare has had an unexpected benefit for the food allergy community. On March 1, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced contracts with two companies to manufacture flu vaccine. The 2009 swine flu pandemic proved that companies were unable to meet the demand for vaccine quickly enough using traditional egg-based methods of production.
Novavax and VaxInnate are the manufacturers of these next-generation recombinant influenza vaccines. Novavax is to develop new technology to produce vaccines using insect cells to express influenza proteins and create virus-like particles that stimulate a strong immune response in humans.VaxInnate is developing a recombinant influenza vaccine technology based on combining influenza and bacteria proteins to stimulate strong immune response to protect against the flu.
People will be able to get the vaccine earlier in the season and these new vaccines by-pass the guessing game of which strain of the virus should be in the vaccine.
I'll keep you posted on more information as it is released.
Finally, egg allergic kids and adults won't have to weight the risk of their allergy against the risk of getting the flu!
Novavax and VaxInnate are the manufacturers of these next-generation recombinant influenza vaccines. Novavax is to develop new technology to produce vaccines using insect cells to express influenza proteins and create virus-like particles that stimulate a strong immune response in humans.VaxInnate is developing a recombinant influenza vaccine technology based on combining influenza and bacteria proteins to stimulate strong immune response to protect against the flu.
People will be able to get the vaccine earlier in the season and these new vaccines by-pass the guessing game of which strain of the virus should be in the vaccine.
I'll keep you posted on more information as it is released.
Finally, egg allergic kids and adults won't have to weight the risk of their allergy against the risk of getting the flu!
Food Allergies and News From Annual Conference of ACAAI
Last week, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) held its annual meeting in Phoenix. The organization, established in 1942, is made up of over 5500 health professionals and is dedicated to improving patient care in the areas of allergy and immunology.
Presenters at the meeting shared studies and research, much of it pertaining to food allergy. I've tracked down a few pieces of relevant presentations. As more is released, I'll share it. In the meantime, this will be of interest to those of us in the food allergy arena:
In a session titled "The Ability of Adults and Children to Visually Identify Peanuts and Tree Nuts", Co-authors: Todd L. Hostetler, MD, and ACAAI Member Bryan Martin, MD, (The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital) report on a study in which only 50% of nut allergic people (ages 6 and up) could identify a picture of the nut they are are allergic to.
In "Adverse Reactions to H1N1 Vaccine after Tolerating Seasonal Flu Immunization", Amber M. Patterson, MD, (The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital) says that tolerance to flu vaccine one year does not suggest future tolerance as the amount of egg in the vaccine varies widely.
In "If Kissing or Sex Leaves You Tingly, Is It Love or Allergies?" Dr. Sami Bahna talked about how allergic reactions to kissing and other intimate acts are more common for those with food and medication allergies.
Something else I've been watching for awhile is the use of Chinese herbs as a cure for peanut allergy. There was a session at the meeting, "Chinese herbs can complement proven allergy treatments", in which it was reported that Food Allergy Herbal Formula, previously shown to reduce anaphylactic reactions in peanut allergic mice, has now been shown to be safe for humans. Sounds promising!
Dr. Bahna, president of ACAAI, raised the ire of some in the food allergy community with several statements about bans 9or not) of peanuts in schools and airplanes. Check it out and see what you think.
For more information on the ACAAI annual meeting, scroll through the Twitter conversation. More information about the organization can be found at their website.
Did any of these reports have a specific interest for you? I'm thrilled with the continued research on all fronts of food allergy. Let's continue to talk about egg allergy and flu vaccine and peanut allergy bans and promising food allergy cures. Let's keep making forward progress!
Presenters at the meeting shared studies and research, much of it pertaining to food allergy. I've tracked down a few pieces of relevant presentations. As more is released, I'll share it. In the meantime, this will be of interest to those of us in the food allergy arena:
In a session titled "The Ability of Adults and Children to Visually Identify Peanuts and Tree Nuts", Co-authors: Todd L. Hostetler, MD, and ACAAI Member Bryan Martin, MD, (The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital) report on a study in which only 50% of nut allergic people (ages 6 and up) could identify a picture of the nut they are are allergic to.
In "Adverse Reactions to H1N1 Vaccine after Tolerating Seasonal Flu Immunization", Amber M. Patterson, MD, (The Ohio State University/Nationwide Children's Hospital) says that tolerance to flu vaccine one year does not suggest future tolerance as the amount of egg in the vaccine varies widely.
In "If Kissing or Sex Leaves You Tingly, Is It Love or Allergies?" Dr. Sami Bahna talked about how allergic reactions to kissing and other intimate acts are more common for those with food and medication allergies.
Something else I've been watching for awhile is the use of Chinese herbs as a cure for peanut allergy. There was a session at the meeting, "Chinese herbs can complement proven allergy treatments", in which it was reported that Food Allergy Herbal Formula, previously shown to reduce anaphylactic reactions in peanut allergic mice, has now been shown to be safe for humans. Sounds promising!
Dr. Bahna, president of ACAAI, raised the ire of some in the food allergy community with several statements about bans 9or not) of peanuts in schools and airplanes. Check it out and see what you think.
For more information on the ACAAI annual meeting, scroll through the Twitter conversation. More information about the organization can be found at their website.
Did any of these reports have a specific interest for you? I'm thrilled with the continued research on all fronts of food allergy. Let's continue to talk about egg allergy and flu vaccine and peanut allergy bans and promising food allergy cures. Let's keep making forward progress!
Flu Vaccine for People With Food Allergy
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) has issued a statement about egg allergy and the flu vaccine after re-examining three studies. The conclusion?
We need more studies.
And thus a multi-center clinical trial is presently underway in the US.
Really? We still don't have enough information on this?????
Now, there is some good news. Many vaccine manufacturers are listing the amount of ovalbumin (egg) on their inserts. This means doctors can seek out low ovalbumin vaccine for their egg allergic patients.
The other finding is that most people with egg allergy do tolerate the vaccine. However, the numbers of severely egg allergic subjects in the study was low, and so it is with caution that researchers can recommend the flu vaccine to this sub-group.
So, it makes sense to explore this again this year. Talk to your allergist. Can they get low egg vaccine? What are the risks vs the benefits of the vaccine? What have they seen in their practice so far this flu vaccine season?
At this point we've done what we always do- the rest of the family gets the vaccine in the hopes of protecting the non-vaccinated egg allergic family member. We see the allergist in two weeks, though, and this is on my list...
...again...
Is it so hard to come up with a flu vaccine without growing it on chicken eggs? Sigh...
Some related posts for those of you dealing with this for the first time:
Flu Vaccine Recommendations and Egg Allergy
Flu Vaccine for Egg Allergic
Still Confused About Egg Allergy and Flu Shots?
Guidelines for H1N1Vaccine and Egg Allergy
Flu Shot Season
We need more studies.
And thus a multi-center clinical trial is presently underway in the US.
Really? We still don't have enough information on this?????
Now, there is some good news. Many vaccine manufacturers are listing the amount of ovalbumin (egg) on their inserts. This means doctors can seek out low ovalbumin vaccine for their egg allergic patients.
The other finding is that most people with egg allergy do tolerate the vaccine. However, the numbers of severely egg allergic subjects in the study was low, and so it is with caution that researchers can recommend the flu vaccine to this sub-group.
So, it makes sense to explore this again this year. Talk to your allergist. Can they get low egg vaccine? What are the risks vs the benefits of the vaccine? What have they seen in their practice so far this flu vaccine season?
At this point we've done what we always do- the rest of the family gets the vaccine in the hopes of protecting the non-vaccinated egg allergic family member. We see the allergist in two weeks, though, and this is on my list...
...again...
Is it so hard to come up with a flu vaccine without growing it on chicken eggs? Sigh...
Some related posts for those of you dealing with this for the first time:
Flu Vaccine Recommendations and Egg Allergy
Flu Vaccine for Egg Allergic
Still Confused About Egg Allergy and Flu Shots?
Guidelines for H1N1Vaccine and Egg Allergy
Flu Shot Season
Egg Allergy and Swine Flu Vaccine
There is growing concern that the current method of manufacturing H1N1 vaccine would take too long if indeed there was a pandemic. Thus, the race has been on to find alternative methods. That's good news for those of us who care about someone with an egg allergy.
Researchers in Vienna recently experienced success creating H1N1 vaccine using insect cells. It worked in mice, but has not been tested in humans. The vaccine was available within 10 weeks, considerably faster than egg-based vaccine, making it appealing for rapid use during times of high demand.
Hmmm...I wonder if allergy to bees would prevent someone from using this vaccine?!!?
There is talk that the cold weather this winter will cause a resurgence of swine flu. Worrisome for those of us who have not vaccinated our egg-allergic children.
Check out some previous posts talking about alternatives to egg cultured flu vaccine.
Researchers in Vienna recently experienced success creating H1N1 vaccine using insect cells. It worked in mice, but has not been tested in humans. The vaccine was available within 10 weeks, considerably faster than egg-based vaccine, making it appealing for rapid use during times of high demand.
Hmmm...I wonder if allergy to bees would prevent someone from using this vaccine?!!?
There is talk that the cold weather this winter will cause a resurgence of swine flu. Worrisome for those of us who have not vaccinated our egg-allergic children.
Check out some previous posts talking about alternatives to egg cultured flu vaccine.
Still Confused About Egg Allergy and Flu Shots?
Yes, I am too, but the most thorough recommendation I've read comes from my neighbors to the north. The Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has issued a complete report with their recommendations. It covers both seasonal flu and H1N1.
In a previous post, I linked to US guidelines.
I'm still researching this and I'm still on the fence about it. After a bad experience with an egg challenge several months ago, it is hard to imagine going through that again. I continue to research and weigh options...sigh...
In a previous post, I linked to US guidelines.
I'm still researching this and I'm still on the fence about it. After a bad experience with an egg challenge several months ago, it is hard to imagine going through that again. I continue to research and weigh options...sigh...
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