Egg Allergies and the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine

Egg Allergies and the H1N1 Vaccine Swine Flu

If you are at high risk for complications from the H1N1 Swine flu virus and are allergic to eggs, it may be possible to receive the H1N1 vaccination. While the H1N1 vaccination is cultivated on ovalbumin (egg white protein) in the same manor as the standard or traditional flu vaccination, it may still be possible to receive the H1N1 vaccination with the help of your allergist.

Your allergist will perform several skin pricks to help determine your allergic reaction risk to the H1N1 flu vaccine. These skin prick tests are not 100% fail proof but do give your doctor a very good idea for allergic risk assessment.

If you pass the scratch test (skin prick test), your doctor may decide to administer the H1N1 vaccination in 10 mini doses over the course of 5 hours to carefully watch for any allergic reactions.

Allergic reactions may vary from minor irritation to severe. If your reaction is minor, Benedryl may be administered along with a steroid cream. If you have a severe reaction you may be given an epinephrine injection along with antihistamines and steroids depending on your situation.

It is important to have your allergist give you the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs because your allergist is prepared for emergency treatment should you need it. Do not attempt to get the H1N1 flu shot from a clinic or pharmacy as they may not be prepared to treat an allergic reaction in an emergency.

1 comment:

  1. It is crazy to me that two things that are totally different can be connected somehow. I never would have even thought of "swine flu" and "egg whites" in the same sentence had i not seen this post.
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