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
Showing posts with label flu vaccine and egg allergy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flu vaccine and egg allergy. Show all posts
Flu Vaccine Recommendations and Food Allergy
The FDA has approved flu vaccine for 2010-2011 in the United States. Vaccine is expected to be available beginning in September 2010. This year's vaccine will protect against 3 strains of influenza, including H1N1, which last year required a separate shot. The brand names and manufacturers are:
As stated in the recently released "Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices", "
This is a tough call for parents of egg allergic children and adults with egg allergy. There has been a lot of chatter on the topic on this blog and others.
Last year, our family got the vaccine, except for my egg allergic son. Instead, we chose to request a prescription for an antiviral drug (like Tamiflu®) to have on-hand in the event of the sudden appearance of flu symptoms. Another option is prophylactic use of antiviral agents, where antiviral drugs are taken over a period of time to protect against the flu.
This year...I don't know what we're doing. Recent reports indicate low risk of reactions when the flu vaccine was administered to those with egg allergy.
...uh huh, but this is my child....
Where are all of you with this decision?
Egg-free vaccines are available, but not yet approved in the U.S. Soon we may not have to make these tough choices.
- Afluria, CSL Limited;
- Agriflu, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics
- Fluarix, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
- FluLaval, ID Biomedical Corporation
- FluMist, MedImmune Vaccines Inc.
- Fluvirin, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Limited
- Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose, Sanofi Pasteur Inc.
As stated in the recently released "Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices", "
hypersensitivity reactions after receipt of vaccine are caused by the presence of residual egg protein in the vaccine). Although influenza vaccines contain only a limited quantity of egg protein, this protein can induce immediate hypersensitivity reactions among persons who have severe egg allergy. Persons who have documented IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to eggs might be at increased risk for allergic reactions to influenza vaccine, and consultation with a physician before vaccination should be considered.A regimen, involving desensitization, has been developed for administering influenza vaccine to those with egg hypersensitivity.
This is a tough call for parents of egg allergic children and adults with egg allergy. There has been a lot of chatter on the topic on this blog and others.
Last year, our family got the vaccine, except for my egg allergic son. Instead, we chose to request a prescription for an antiviral drug (like Tamiflu®) to have on-hand in the event of the sudden appearance of flu symptoms. Another option is prophylactic use of antiviral agents, where antiviral drugs are taken over a period of time to protect against the flu.
This year...I don't know what we're doing. Recent reports indicate low risk of reactions when the flu vaccine was administered to those with egg allergy.
...uh huh, but this is my child....
Where are all of you with this decision?
Egg-free vaccines are available, but not yet approved in the U.S. Soon we may not have to make these tough choices.
Egg-Free H1N1 Vaccine
FluGen, Inc. has announced a cell-based production of flu vaccine that doesn't use egg in any part of production. Great news for those with egg allergy.
Read all about it.
The company hopes to ramp up production and have vaccine ready, "in the very near future".
My questions:
Will it be FDA approved for use in the United States?
Will there be a method for getting it to people with egg allergy first as they are unable, or at risk to get, the egg-based vaccines?
I'll keep you posted on this.
Read all about it.
The company hopes to ramp up production and have vaccine ready, "in the very near future".
My questions:
Will it be FDA approved for use in the United States?
Will there be a method for getting it to people with egg allergy first as they are unable, or at risk to get, the egg-based vaccines?
I'll keep you posted on this.
Guidelines for H1N1 Vaccine and Egg Allergy
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| Egg Allergy |
I'm really torn about how to proceed with this. My son recently underwent an egg challenge in the allergist's office. It was not successful. Looking over the AAAAI guidelines, it appears that he would need several skin pricks (which he hates) and then if we proceed, he may require 5 vaccines at 15 minute intervals. If a medical issue arises, we face a shot of epinephrine and perhaps inhaled steroids. Ugh!
And that's just the H1N1 vaccine. This whole procedure is repeated for the seasonal flu vaccine. For the past few years, the rest of the family has received the seasonal flu vaccine. I get mine this afternoon. Our egg allergic son has not gotten the vaccine. Swine flu makes me more nervous.
What are the rest of you with egg allergies or egg allergic children doing? I know that I need to contact our allergist, but I'm not sure we want to go down the road that will be recommended...
Swine Flu Vaccine Safe for Those with With Egg Allergy?
The swine flu vaccine has been on my mind.
A post I read originally on Life With Food Allergies Blog has given me hope. Reportedly, drug company Novartis, has created a swine flu vaccine that will be safe for those with egg allergy.
I stil have a bunch of questions, though. It seems that other companies will be manufacturing swine flu vaccine that wouldn't be safe for those with egg allergy. How will distribution be handled? People who can't have the egg-based vaccine should certainly be the top priority for the new vaccine. Also, will the FDA cause this vaccine to hang up in the US? If it is available in Europe, can we go there to get the vaccine for our egg allergic family members?
It seems there are no clear cut answers to these questions yet.
Does anyone else know anything about this?
Check out the article here.
A post I read originally on Life With Food Allergies Blog has given me hope. Reportedly, drug company Novartis, has created a swine flu vaccine that will be safe for those with egg allergy.
I stil have a bunch of questions, though. It seems that other companies will be manufacturing swine flu vaccine that wouldn't be safe for those with egg allergy. How will distribution be handled? People who can't have the egg-based vaccine should certainly be the top priority for the new vaccine. Also, will the FDA cause this vaccine to hang up in the US? If it is available in Europe, can we go there to get the vaccine for our egg allergic family members?
It seems there are no clear cut answers to these questions yet.
Does anyone else know anything about this?
Check out the article here.
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