Study: Flu Shots Safe for Kids Allergic to Eggs

Got egg allergies? That’s doesn’t mean your kid has to suffer through the flu, too. A new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has found that egg-allergic folks can be safely vaccinated against the flu. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children over 6 months get the annual flu shot, but because the vaccine is gown in chicken eggs, there has been concern that those with egg allergies could have a reaction. However, when Canadian researchers followed 367 egg-allergic people—mostly children—who got the flu shot over 5 years, none of the patients had a serious reaction to the vaccine and only 13 patients had mild allergy symptoms such as itchy skin or hives. In addition, the researchers reviewed 26 previous studies which included more than 4,000 egg-allergic patients who received flu shots and none of them developed a serious reaction either.

Plus: Cold and Flu Old Wives’ Tales

Flu season can begin as early as October, so check out our new 2012 Cold and Flu Guide and talk to your child’s pediatrician or pediatric allergist about getting vaccinated safely—in most cases that means simply waiting around the doctor’s office a half hour for observation after the vaccine is administered.

Plus: Learn About the Latest Allergy Treatments