Flu vaccine with egg allergy?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Well sort of.

DS is 10. He's got several mild food allergies and one of the things he reacts to is raw egg. I've tried to get him the egg free vaccine for the last 3 years unsuccessfully- I keep being passed around pillar to post and no one seems to know how to get it. I don't know if he's allowed the normal one.

His reactions are not severe and easily calmed with Piriton but do cause eczema flare ups which are harder to control.

He also seems to be quite susceptible to flu and has had it 3 times quite badly (proper flu). Last year he had it and it developed into post viral irritable hip - he couldn't walk at all for 6 days and it was awful. I had phoned the GP and the vaccinations department 3 times prior to that and been told 'we'll get back to you' and they didn't.

We have already enquired about the egg free vaccine once this year and heard nothing.

Honestly, I'm tempted just to let him have the normal one and give him Piriton. Anyone got any experience that can shed any light?

Thanks!

If they are aware of his egg allergy they won't give him the vaccine. It's too risky for everyone involved.

I had a mild egg allergy as a child. I do actually eat eggs/things with egg in now and I'm fine but they won't give me the flu jab as egg allergy is on my notes

A child with a mild egg allergy can have the nasal flu vaccine in school.
Children who have had a previous admission to intensive care with anaphylaxis to egg can also have the vaccine but they need to have it in a clinical setting under the care of a specialist nurse.

(I’m a HCP involved in giving the vaccine).

www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/flucelvax-tetra

Looks like this is a newer one this season that is not grown using egg

I have a DC with an egg allergy. The first time he had flu vax he had it under observation at hospital with no issue. Since the he’s had it annually with no problem.

This is from the ‘Green Book’ (the vaccination bible....

”JCVI has advised (JCVI, 2015) that children with an egg allergy – including those with previous anaphylaxis to egg – can be safely vaccinated with LAIV in any setting (including primary care and schools). The only exception is for children who have required admission to intensive care for a previous severe anaphylaxis to egg, for whom no data are available; such children are best given LAIV in the hospital setting. LAIV remains the preferred vaccine for this group and the intranasal route is less likely to cause systemic reactions.”

Ooh this is encouraging! Fingers crossed for this year.