September 20, 2000
Other
Question from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA:
My seven year old son is has had diabetes for two years. His doctor has been unwilling to give him a flu shot because he tests positive for egg allergies. However, he had not problems for any of his childhood immunizations. Last winter he became very ill with the flu and dehydrated and it was very frightening. Are there any flu shots available will no egg allergy risks?
Answer:
I don’t have access to the CDC’s stated position. Your doctor can check with your state health department, or look at www.cdc.gov.
Most vaccines are safe for those with egg allergies. Most kids do not have life threatening allergies to egg. I don’t know your situation.
Are you sure it was the “flu” last year? We call lots of different viral illnesses “flu” and the flu vaccine protects only against influenza A and B: a particular group of respiratory viruses.
LD
