ORLANDO, Fla. — Less than 1% of children with egg allergy experienced adverse reactions to an influenza vaccine, according to results presented here during the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology 2012 Annual Meeting.
The initial 660 eligible children were aged 6 months to 13 years (mean age, 5 years) and evaluated for tolerance to influenza vaccine. The allergy was based on clinical history and a positive skin test and/or positive serum egg immunoglobulin E.
Fatima Khan, MD, of the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues stratified 643 children based on tolerance to egg in baked goods and level of egg-specific IgE. Before receiving the vaccine, children were skin tested for influenza vaccine and observed for 30 minutes after administration. Children received either a full dose or split dose of the vaccine.
Four of 643 children demonstrated adverse reactions, but those reactions were minor and included only local redness and swelling.
Two of the adverse reactions were observed in children who received the full dose, and two were observed in children who received the split dose.
Results also indicated that skin test wheal to egg varied from less than 10 mm to more than 20 mm. None of the children indicated known tolerance to egg in baked goods.
Tolerance to egg in baked goods predicted tolerance to the vaccine. Parental concerns or time constraints prohibited 17 children from receiving the vaccine.
In an interview with Infectious Diseases in Children, Khan said the study was conducted in private offices, not an academic institution.
“This is more real world data,” she said. “Our findings support results obtained from all other studies that influenza vaccine is safe to give to egg allergic children without influenza skin testing or splitting doses.”
Disclosure: Dr. Khan reports no relevant financial disclosures.
For more information:
- Khan FS. Abstract #265. Presented at: the AAAAI 2012 Annual Meeting; March 2-6, 2012; Orlando, Fla.