Ditch The Myth: Can People With Egg Allergy Get The Flu Vaccine?

Short answer: Yes

The myth

Many people believe that if you are allergic to eggs you must avoid the flu shot because vaccines are made using eggs. That used to be a cautious recommendation decades ago, but it is no longer supported by current evidence and official guidance.

Where the worry comes from

Traditional flu vaccines are often produced using egg-based manufacturing, which can introduce trace amounts of egg protein (ovalbumin).
Because egg allergy can cause severe reactions in some people, that historical connection led to concern and precautionary recommendations in the past.

What current medical guidance says

Authoritative bodies including the CDC and ACIP now recommend that people aged ≥6 months with egg allergy may receive any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine (egg-based or non-egg-based) without additional special precautions solely because of egg allergy. Health professionals do not need to ask about egg allergy before vaccination as a routine screening question.

Practical points for clinicians and patients

If someone has had only hives after eating eggs, they may get any flu vaccine and no special observation beyond the routine 15-minute wait is needed.
For people who had more severe allergic reactions to eggs (angioedema, respiratory distress, anaphylaxis), influenza vaccine is still recommended; vaccination should occur in a setting where vaccine-associated allergic reactions can be managed (which is standard for most clinic settings).
Previous severe allergic reaction to a prior dose of influenza vaccine (not egg) remains a valid precaution; discuss with your clinician if you have such a history.

Why this changed

Large studies and experience have shown that the tiny amounts of egg protein present in most influenza vaccines rarely — if ever — cause serious allergic reactions, even in people with egg allergy. As a result, policy evolved to make vaccination easier and safer for more people, reducing missed opportunities to prevent influenza.

What you should do

Tell your healthcare provider about any severe allergic reactions you’ve had in the past to any vaccine or to egg. This is part of routine vaccine screening.
If you or your child has a prior history of a severe allergic reaction to an influenza vaccine itself, discuss evaluation with an allergist or your primary care clinician before re-vaccination.
Get vaccinated at a clinic or location equipped to recognize and treat rare vaccine reactions (standard clinical sites meet this requirement).