The annual influenza vaccine is a public health measure recommended for most individuals aged six months and older to help prevent seasonal flu. A common concern for many people, especially those with food sensitivities, revolves around whether an egg allergy affects their ability to safely receive this vaccination. This article aims to clarify the connection between egg allergies and flu shots, addressing safety recommendations and available vaccine options.
Understanding the Egg-Flu Shot Connection
Historically, concerns about egg allergies and flu shots arose from the traditional egg-based manufacturing process. For over 70 years, most influenza vaccines were produced by injecting viruses into fertilized chicken eggs, allowing them to replicate, then harvesting and purifying the viral material.
This process could result in trace amounts of egg proteins, specifically ovalbumin, remaining in the final vaccine. These minute quantities of egg protein were the basis for previous precautions and recommendations for individuals with egg allergies.
Current Guidelines for Egg Allergies and Flu Shots
Current medical consensus and official recommendations emphasize that most individuals with an egg allergy, regardless of the allergy’s severity, can safely receive any age-appropriate flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends additional safety measures for egg-allergic individuals beyond those advised for any vaccine recipient.
Severe allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis, to any vaccine are rare, occurring at a rate of approximately 1.35 per million doses for seasonal flu vaccines. While all vaccinations should be administered in settings equipped to recognize and manage allergic reactions, specific precautions like extended observation periods are not needed solely due to an egg allergy. If you have a history of a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine itself, discussing this with your healthcare provider is important, as certain vaccines might be contraindicated.
Types of Flu Vaccines Available
Several types of flu vaccines are available. Most standard inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs) contain very low amounts of egg protein.
For those with concerns about egg content, egg-free options are available. The recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), such as Flublok Quadrivalent, is manufactured without the use of eggs at any stage of production and contains no egg proteins. This vaccine is approved for individuals 18 years and older. Another egg-free alternative is the cell-based inactivated influenza vaccine (ccIIV), like Flucelvax Quadrivalent. This vaccine is produced by growing flu viruses in mammalian cell cultures instead of eggs, making it completely egg-free and suitable for individuals aged six months and older.