Administering influenza vaccine to egg-allergic persons

The most serious form of type I or IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction is anaphylaxis. A standardized case definition of anaphylaxis as an adverse event after immunization has been developed. Such reactions to vaccines, including influenza vaccine, are rare but potentially life-threatening. Until recently, all influenza vaccines were manufactured in eggs. Residual egg protein in the vaccines was thought to pose a risk to egg-allergic vaccine recipients. However, a large number of recent studies have demonstrated that egg-allergic recipients are no more likely than those without egg allergy to suffer such reactions. Published guidelines have been updated to recommend that patients with egg allergy receive annual influenza vaccination. Any patient who has an anaphylactic reaction to influenza vaccine should be carefully evaluated by an allergist for guidance on subsequent immunization.