Vaccination against influenza has become more important than ever, and some may think that having a certain food allergy, such as an egg allergy, means that you should not receive the flu vaccine, as the flu vaccine contains a small amount of egg protein, but despite this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you should not receive the flu vaccine. US disease control and preventionCDC) Only avoid flu vaccines if you have had a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine itself, not an egg allergy, according to the Cleveland Clinic website.
“People with egg allergy who receive the flu vaccine are no more at risk of developing an allergic reaction than those without egg allergy,” said infectious disease specialist Stephen Gordon.
Tips for getting a flu shot if you have had a mild or severe allergic reaction to eggs
Here’s what the CDC recommends if you’re allergic to eggs:
If only eggs cause hives (which are raised, red, itchy bumps on the skin), you can safely get the flu vaccine appropriate for your age and health anywhere.
If eggs cause swelling, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or frequent vomiting, you can get a flu shot, but it must be in a medical setting.
Keep in mind that your risk of getting the flu (which can lead to illness, hospitalization and even death) outweighs your risk of having an allergic reaction to the egg protein in the vaccine.
What to do if you have a severe allergic reaction to the flu vaccine
You shouldn’t get the flu shot if the flu vaccine itself causes you to have a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This can happen whether or not you’re allergic to eggs.
Because anaphylaxis develops quickly and can be fatal, the risk of a repeat episode from getting the vaccine far outweighs the risk of getting the flu.
It’s important to understand the risks that come with any vaccine but you can rest assured that only 1.35 out of 1 million people have experienced a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine.
Among this small group, anaphylaxis was most often caused by an allergy to another component of the vaccine, rather than the egg.
There’s no reason why someone with a suspected egg allergy shouldn’t get a flu shot.
The best thing you can do to put yourself in a safe position is to tell your flu shot specialist doctor about your allergies ahead of time.
