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MMR vaccination of children with egg allergy is safe
Dorthe Vestergård Andersen1, Inger Merete Jørgensen
1Valby Langgade 8, 3. th., 2500 Valby, Denmark. dorthevest@yahoo.dk
Insights
Children with egg allergy can safely receive the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine without anaphylactic reactions. Current Danish guidelines recommending specialized vaccination for egg-allergic children are not supported by this study's findings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Allergy
Background:
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccination is a standard part of childhood immunization.
- Children with egg allergy may experience anaphylaxis to MMR vaccines due to egg protein traces.
- Danish guidelines mandate specialized vaccination for egg-allergic children, differing from international recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate anaphylactic/allergic reactions in children with egg allergy following MMR vaccination.
- To assess the safety of MMR vaccination in egg-allergic children.
- To inform Danish clinical guidelines regarding MMR vaccination for egg-allergic children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical histories of 32 children with egg sensitization referred for MMR vaccination.
- Data collected from 01.01.2008 to 28.02.2011 at Hillerød Hospital.
- Vaccinations coded using International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) for allergies and oral food challenges.
Main Results:
- A total of 41 MMR vaccine doses were administered to the 32 patients.
- No anaphylactic or allergic reactions were observed in any of the egg-allergic children post-MMR vaccination.
- A significant percentage (23%) of vaccinations were administered with considerable delay.
Conclusions:
- The Priorix MMR vaccine is safe for children with egg allergy.
- Current Danish recommendations for specialized vaccination of egg-allergic children lack supporting evidence.
- Reconsideration of national guidelines by relevant health authorities is recommended.
Introduction:
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination is part of the Danish Childhood Vaccination Programme. It is known that children may react with anaphylaxis to MMR vaccines containing traces of egg protein. In Denmark, national clinical guidelines recommend that children with egg allergy be referred to vaccination at a paediatric ward despite changed recommendations in other countries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether children with egg allergy presented with anaphylactic/allergic reactions to MMR vaccination and to discuss whether Danish recommendations should be upheld.
Material And Methods:
Data collected through evaluation of the histories of children referred to the Paediatric Ward at Hillerød Hospital from 01.01.2008 to 28.02.2011 and coded according to action diagnosis and/or supplementary diagnosis in International Classification of Diseases 10 (ICD-10) for food allergy, oedema angioneurotica and tentative diagnosis as well as the procedure code for oral food challenge. A total of 32 patients were included, all were both sensitized to egg and had been MMR vaccinated.
Results:
The 32 patients had received a total of 41 doses of MMR vaccine. None of them had shown anaphylactic/allergic reactions to the MMR vaccines. 23% of the vaccines were given with considerable delay.
Conclusion:
Based on our study, we conclude that the Priorix MMR vaccine may be administered just as safely to children diagnosed with egg allergy as to other children. We found no evidence in support of the current Danish recommendations. We therefore recommend that the Statens Serum Institut, the Danish Paediatric Society and/or the Danish Health and Medicines Authority reconsider these recommendations.
Funding:
not relevant
Trial Registration:
not relevant.
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