Egg allergy and Fluenz vaccine?

[cameorole]

Thought it would be a good idea to look it up before making an appointment for DS and saw that it isn't recommended for people with egg allergies. Are any of you with egg-allergic DCs having your DCs vaccinated against flu this winter? I'm in two minds. On the one hand I want to avoid flu and all its horrible consequences for my allergic DS (including hospital admission and prednisolone etc in the past), but last year he was given the injection and was sick after both doses (about a day later, which made me think it may have had nothing to do with the vaccine). I don't know what to do! Anyone in the same boat?

[eragon]

you can ask GP for egg free flu vaccine. our son had it done when younger.

[cameorole]

Ah thanks, eragon, had no idea there was such a thing, as it was never mentioned to us as an alternative. I wonder whether it's because it's a very expensive option?

[nearlyreadytopop]

ds is allergic to egg but also has asthma so I am in the same boat as you. I emailed his consultant so said because he is anaphylactic to egg he shouldn't have the regular vaccine at the gp. instead they are ordering a vaccine with a very small amount of egg protein which will be given in hospital so ds can be observed.
It's still going to scare me but the thought of him with flu considering how bad his asthma was last winter terrifies me even more.

[HarrietIsHistory]

My DD is allergic to egg, but never been anaphylactic, and she had a flu vaccine last year. Her arm swelled around the injection site quite nastily and she had diarrhoea for 2 days and seemed generally under the weather but I think it was worth it because we went the whole winter without any hospital admissions for her asthma.
Ours was done by the nurse practitioner who had an epipen on standby, I was very nervous!

[cameorole]

Thanks for your messages -- really helpful. I'll ask our GP next week about these options. Definitely convinced me that even a reaction as bad as your DD's, Harriet, is worth it for avoiding hospital admissions! Hope it goes well with your DS, nearlyready!

[HarrietIsHistory]

Definitely worth it I think. A bad few days after the vaccine but then a much happier and healthier winter. Hope it goes well.