Health experts in the US and Canada say flu shots are now considered safe for patients with severe egg allergies, even though the vaccines are grown in eggs.
The most common kind of flu shot is grown in eggs.
For years, clinicians were coached to ask if patients were allergic to eggs before administering a shot.
But a wealth of studies confirm that the egg-based flu vaccine is safe even for those allergic to eggs.
For years, immunologists were cautious about giving the flu shot to folks with egg allergies. Because most flu vaccines are grown in eggs, they have trace amounts of egg protein in them.
“Are you allergic to eggs?” used to be a common question clinicians would ask before administering the shot.
But no more.
Allergist Matthew Greenhawt of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology authored new guidelines that came out Tuesday.
“Children with egg allergy of any severity can receive influenza vaccine without any special precautions,” he told Business Insider in an email.
Tech: New guidelines say the flu shot is safe for even more people — including those with egg allergies
