Influenza vaccination in egg-allergic children

January 01, 0001

Influenza vaccination in egg-allergic children

These US researchers investigated the safety administering graded doses of influenza vaccine to egg-allergic children without first using a skin test. They conducted a retrospective chart-review study of egg- allergic patients aged 6 months to 18 years who received the vaccine skin test and/or a 2-dose graded influenza vaccine. Between 2002-2006, egg-allergic patients underwent a vaccine skin test before influenza vaccine administration. Starting in 2006-2007, the skin test was removed from our protocol and egg-allergic patients received the influenza vaccine in 2 graded doses. All vaccinated patients were observed for adverse reactions.

The researchers report: "Two hundred sixty-one egg-allergic patients were evaluated for influenza vaccine administration, and 171 went on to receive the vaccine. Of the 56 patients who received the skin test before the influenza vaccine, 95% tolerated the vaccine without a serious adverse reaction. This rate was unchanged after the vaccine skin test was removed from the protocol. Of the 115 patients who received the vaccine without a preceding skin test, 97% tolerated the vaccine without serious adverse reaction. The tolerance rate ratio was 1.01."

The authors concluded: "The results of our study suggest that egg- allergic patients without anaphylaxis to egg may safely receive the influenza vaccine in a 2-dose, graded fashion without a vaccine skin test."

This study raises the possibility that some egg allergic patients may be able to receive the influenza vaccine without receiving a skin test.

For the full abstract, click here.

Pediatrics 125(5):e1024-e1030, May 2010 © Copyright American Academy of Pediatrics
Safety of Influenza Vaccine Administration in Egg-Allergic Patients. Erica Y. Chung, Lin Huang, and Lynda Schneider.

Category: B. Blood/Immune Mechanisms. Keywords: influenza, vaccination, egg-allergic, anaphylaxis, skin-testing, controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 11 June 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.