Current issues with
influenza vaccination in egg allergy.
Zeiger
RS.
Department of Allergy, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center
San Diego, California 92111, USA.
Influenza infection, with its
accompanying morbidity and mortality, represents a major public health
concern yearly to the elderly and high-risk groups, including asthmatic
patients. Active prevention with vaccination consistently falls short of
reaching optimal immunization rates in all risk groups. Asthmatic
patients and others with concomitant egg allergy might be denied active
immunization because of the risk of inducing adverse reactions with a
vaccine derived from egg embryo tissue. Evidence supports the relatively
safe administration of influenza vaccine to individuals with egg allergy
in whom vaccination is indicated when specific protocols are followed
under the supervision of experienced physicians. A practical protocol
that includes incremental dosing of influenza vaccine is presented to
guide clinicians in influenza vaccination in this high-risk
group.