Can I Get the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine if I’m Allergic to Eggs?

Question: Can I Get the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine if I’m Allergic to Eggs?

Answer: Probably not. The H1N1 swine flu injected and nasal vaccines, just like the seasonal influenza vaccine, are produced in chicken eggs. Therefore, all flu vaccines contain a small amount of egg protein. It is possible that this egg protein could cause an allergic reaction if given to a person with an allergy to eggs. Because the amount of egg protein changes from one year to the next, it is possible for a person with egg allergy to have tolerated flu vaccines in the past, but have an allergic reaction from the H1N1 swine flu vaccine.

Parents often think their children may have an egg allergy, whether they were diagnosed by a physician or simply based on a suspicion. While many children will outgrow egg allergy by the time they are teenagers, some never outgrow their egg allergy. Sometimes allergy testing shows positive tests for egg allergy (sensitization), but that person can eat eggs without experiencing any symptoms. People who can eat eggs without symptoms are not allergic to eggs, regardless of what a skin test or blood test may show.

For people who truly are allergic to eggs, it is still possible for them to receive the H1N1 swine flu vaccine under the direct care of an experienced allergist. This procedure is termed a prick-and-progressive vaccine challenge, with the person first being skin tested to the vaccine. If these skin tests are normal, the vaccine may be given normally. If the vaccine skin tests are abnormal, the vaccine may still be given in divided amounts over many hours (called desensitization). The decision to perform a vaccine challenge is based on the person’s risk from not being vaccinated to the potential risk of having an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

Learn about medicines available for the treatment of swine flu.

_Sources:

_{2009 Live-Attenuated Nasal Influenza Vaccine Information Statement. Centers for Disease Control. October 2, 2009.}

_{Moylett EH, Hanson IC. Mechanistic actions of the risks and adverse events associated with vaccine administration. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004; 114:1010-20.}

_{DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this site is for educational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for personal care by a licensed physician. Please see your physician for diagnosis and treatment of any concerning symptoms or medical condition.}