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CDC Recommends Seasonal Flu Shot for People with Egg Allergy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently published new recommendations about this year’s seasonal flu vaccine in the United States. The committee now recommends that people with egg allergy receive the flu shot, especially if they only have had mild egg-allergic reactions such as hives. The recommendation does not apply to the nasal spray influenza vaccine.

The updated ACIP guidance is based, in part, on findings from recent studies discussed in the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States: Report of the NIAID-Sponsored Expert Panel. These studies show that the flu shot (which contains heat-killed flu virus) can be given safely to most people with egg allergy.

Read the updated guidance on the ACIP website.

About FAAN

Founded in 1991, the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) is the world leader in information, resources, and programs for food allergy, a potentially life-threatening medical condition that afflicts as many as 15 million Americans, including almost 6 million children. A nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., FAAN is dedicated to increasing public awareness of food allergy and its consequences, to educating people about the condition, and to advancing research on behalf of all those affected by it. FAAN provides information and educational resources about food allergy to patients, their families, schools, health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, the food industry, and government officials. On May 9, 2012, FAAN announced its intent to merge with the other leading food allergy organization, the Food Allergy Initiative, pending state regulatory approval. To become a member or for more information, please visit FAAN at www.foodallergy.org.

Media Contact

Nancy Gregory
Media Relations
(703) 563-3066
E-mail: ngregory@foodallergy.org