pm360: New AAP policy recommends flu vaccination regardless of egg allergy

Dr. Mary Anne Jackson

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a new policy statement that in part suggests that physicians can administer influenza vaccine to children and teenagers with egg allergies without any special precautions beyond those that apply to other vaccines.

This is some “egg-citing news,” said Mary Ann Jackson, MD. “In 28 studies with 4,315 egg allergic subjects, 656 of whom had severe allergies, there were no serious allergic reactions.” In other words, there was no respiratory distress or hypotension observed after participants received the influenza vaccine in these studies, she added.

“All children with egg allergy can receive influenza vaccine, any product, with no special precautions [other] than those recommended for routine precautions,” Dr. Jackson said, creating a buzz among attendees at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

This new policy “makes your life so much easier … and allows you to continue to recommend the vaccine strongly,” said Dr. Jackson, division director of infectious diseases at Children’s Mercy and professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Other reasons to recommend flu vaccination

Dr. Jackson also gave an overview of influenza epidemiology and why ongoing education of patients and families remains essential. “It’s almost flu season now. It’s inevitable – like RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] is inevitable – but when the seasons starts is unknown,” she said. “How severe and long the season will be is also unpredictable.” Which viruses are spread and whether there is a good match between circulating virus and the vaccine are additional unknowns each year.

Read the full story via pm360.

Learn more about the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Mercy.