FLU SHOT WITHOUT EGGS….THEY CAN BE FOUND

virus puzzleThe flu vaccine has a long history of production in chicken eggs and as a result, patients who have reported egg allergies are told to avoid the influenza vaccine.

That issue has been resolved with the development of a genetically engineered flu vaccine that does not use eggs in it’s production.

FLUBLOK is that flu vaccine, but there are several things to know before you get this particular vaccine:

1.  It is approved for ages 18-49 only (although I presume it is safe in older age groups, there is no official approval and it has not been tested)

2.  It is difficult to find….  but there are locations for it and you can find them  >>>>>HERE.

3.  Despite the reported egg allergy, nearly all people can take the standard flu vaccine that contains eggs in it.  The Center for Disease Control has an algorithm for determining which flu shot to take….

RIV3=FLUBLOCK

IIV=STANDARD FLU VACCINE WHICH CONTAINS EGG

IIThe figure above is a flow chart detailing recommendations regarding influenza vaccination of persons who report allergy to eggs in the United States for the 2014-15 influenza season. Persons with a history of egg allergy who have experienced only hives after exposure to egg should receive influenza vaccine. Because relatively few data are available for use of live attenuated influenza vaccine in this setting, inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV), or trivalent recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV3) should be used. RIV3 may be used for persons aged 18 through 49 years who have no other contraindications. However, IIV (egg- or cell-culture based) may also be used, with certain additional safety measures.