Yes. If you have a current or past egg allergy, you can get the flu (influenza) vaccine, even if you have had severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to egg. The same is true for children.
The following organizations recommend getting the flu shot every year, even if you have an egg allergy:
You can get any flu vaccine, even if you have a history of mild or severe egg allergy. You can get the shot or nasal spray. You no longer need to be observed in a doctor’s office for 30 minutes after getting the vaccine if you have or had an egg allergy.
AAFA recommends the following:
Most versions of the flu shot and nasal spray vaccines can contain a tiny amount of egg protein. But studies show that the amount is so small it is unlikely that you will have a severe allergic reactions to the vaccines if you have an egg allergy.
There are also two vaccines that are egg free:
The risk of complications from the flu are greater than the risk of reaction from the tiny amount of egg in the vaccine.
Flu viruses change from year to year. So the flu vaccines change every year. Also, the CDC updates its guidelines each year. Below are the current guidelines:
The CDC makes the following recommendations for people with an egg allergy who get the flu vaccine:1
The AAAAI and ACAAI state that the vaccine is safe to give in any setting. There is no special waiting time or other precautions.2
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious complications from the flu are possible, like pneumonia. It can also cause death in severe cases. The flu causes thousands of hospitalizations and deaths every year, including previously healthy children and adults. While the 2020-21 flu season was historically mild, this is not expected during the upcoming winter season.
It is possible to also get other illnesses such as COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at the same time as the flu and become very sick. Getting the flu vaccine can help reduce you or your child’s risk of severe illness from more than one respiratory infection.
Talk to a board-certified allergist about the flu vaccine if your child has ever had a:
If you or your child has an egg allergy and you are still concerned about getting the flu shot, talk with an allergist.
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Medical Review October 2021 by David Stukus, MD.
References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, September 22). Flu vaccine and people with egg allergies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 14, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/egg-allergies.htm#recommendations.
2. Greenhawt, M., Turner, P. J., & Kelso, J. M. (2018). Administration of influenza vaccines to egg allergic recipients: A practice parameter update 2017. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 120(1), 49–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2017.10.020