If you have severe egg allergy then you cannot get the flu vaccine….why?
All flu vaccines are made by growing the flu virus particles in chicken eggs before treating them in a way to kill (inactivate) or weaken the viruses. The flu shots contain tiny amounts of the egg protein, and how much is contained in every shot, depends on what brand of the vaccine you get. There is always some amount of egg left in the shot, so people with anaphylactic (severe) allergic response to egg should never be given the flu shot.
What does an anaphylactic reaction look like? Your entire body gets covered in hives, there is a drop in blood pressure, your throat may start closing out on you due to blockage of the airways.
I know it is the flu season, and also there being the swine flu it is good for you to know this. My son has an egg allergy and chances are the little one has it too. I will take my oldest to his allergist and they will administer the flu shot there, only because last year he was able to get it without any reactions, plus we will be in the right hands, should he react to this specific brand.
This is what the Dr typically looks for, if you have had foods containing egg and have done ok i.e without any severe reactions, chances are they will go ahead and give you the flu shot.
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