Have you been putting off getting a flu shot this year? If you have an egg allergy, you may have heard that it’s not safe to receive your seasonal flu shot. That’s because flu vaccines are manufactured in a process using chicken eggs, which leaves trace amounts of the protein ovalbumin in the vaccine.
However, recent research has shown that people with egg allergies can get a flu shot. Read on to learn more:
About Egg Allergies
Egg allergies are rare—affecting an estimated 2 percent of children in the United States—and most people outgrow their egg allergies by the time they reach adulthood. As such, egg allergies are typically only a cause for concern in pediatric settings.
However, in past years, children and adults with egg allergies could not get flu shots. This is because flu shots are manufactured using chicken eggs. Doctors believed that a flu shot could potentially trigger an allergic reaction in people with egg allergies. As such, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that people with egg allergies should err on the side of caution and refrain from getting flu shots
CDC Update
This, however, have changed. While the CDC previously recommended people with egg allergies to avoid flu shots, new research has shown that flu shots likely won’t receive a severe reaction. As a result, the CDC has updated its recommendation in light of new evidence that flu shots are safe, even for people with severe egg allergies.
“People with egg allergy of any severity can receive the influenza vaccine without any special precautions,” said Dr. Matthew Greenhawt of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in a peer-reviewed paper cited by the CDC in its new guidelines.
If you haven’t gotten your flu shot this season, it’s not too late! Be sure to get yours to protect yourself and others from the flu. And, stay tuned for more updates from your source for all your favorite breeds of egg-laying hens—Chickens for Backyards.