New Parameters Set for Administering Flu Vaccine to Egg Allergic Recipients

Individuals with egg allergies can safely receive an influenza vaccine without any precautions, according to the updated practice parameters created by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI).

The authors of the new parameters reviewed new data on the safety of administering the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) and inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) to individuals with egg allergies.
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Among the recommendations:

• Individuals with egg allergies of any severity should receive an influenza vaccine.
• No special precautions—such as choice of a vaccine, observation periods, or restriction to a specific medical setting—should be taken for administering a vaccine to individuals with an egg allergy.
• The LAIV can be administered to all individuals with an egg allergy.
• Providers do not need to ask patients about their egg allergy status.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Greenhawt M, Turner PJ, Kelso JM. Administration of influenza vaccines to egg allergic recipients: a practice parameter update 2017. 2018;120(1):49-52. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.020.