Flu shot question

EvansBrideToBe

Does anyone know if they make a flu shot that does not have egg? I heard that the N1H1 vaccine won't have it but I can't find the info about the seasonal flu.

I'm also googling but I'm getting a lot of results with not enough info. I'll also be asking my doc on Friday but I just wanted to get more info if I could first.

sharrow

The spray?

 

Edit: nope, spray has it as well... sorry

womet

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to eggs, then you should not get the seasonal flu vaccine (source).

ETA: Here is the source for the LAIV.

uncannycanuck

Flumist is not recommended for egg sensitive people.

I think you're SOL for seasonal flu. If it makes you feel better, my health region has decided not to offer the seasonal flu vaccine this year because the vast majority of cases are H1N1 anyway.

EvansBrideToBe

Why doesn't the N1H1 have egg? Does anyone know.

Thanks for all the responses.

dany2006

womet:

If you have had a severe allergic reaction to eggs, then you should not get the seasonal flu vaccine (source).

Ditto. I have a very serious egg allergy and cannot get the flu shot at all (and never have gotten it). My allergist told me H1N1 would also be cultured in egg so it's a no-go for me as well.

We are TTC so my allergist recommended I take 5000 IUs of vitamin D3 daily to boost my immune system and ward off flu (definitely don't want to get the flu if I get pregnant).

uncannycanuck

EvansBrideToBe:

Why doesn't the N1H1 have egg? Does anyone know.

Thanks for all the responses.

I think they needed to grow it faster than usual, so they used another way to incubate it.

CDC says no go for egg allergy people.  So I guess what I heard was not done.

dany2006

EvansBrideToBe:

Why doesn't the N1H1 have egg? Does anyone know.

Thanks for all the responses.

My doctor has told me it does. From http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm

Will this vaccine be made differently than the seasonal influenza vaccine?

No. This vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make the currently licensed seasonal influenza vaccines.

 

This means it will be made using eggs so egg allergic people can't have it. If there is an egg-free vaccine out there I'd love to hear about it--I will line up to get it!

 

dusk42

This article is about vaccines in the UK, but you could start there:

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/339/sep15_3/b3680

 

Novartis makes one called Optiflu that is grown in cell culture.

http://www.novartisvaccines.com/products-diseases/influenza-products/index.shtml

 

Novartis is also testing an cell-culture vaccine for H1N1:

http://www.novartis.com/newsroom/media-releases/en/2009/1339223.shtml 

EvansBrideToBe

Thanks uncanny and dany for all the info. I guess I heard wrong too.

 

dusk42

dany2006:

This means it will be made using eggs so egg allergic people can't have it. If there is an egg-free vaccine out there I'd love to hear about it--I will line up to get it! 

I think there is only one (maybe two) egg-free vaccines - the one from Novartis that I posted above.  I'm not sure of the availability, but it will probably have to be special-ordered.  If your doctor doesn't know, call an infectious disease specialist.     

Dr.Loretta

No.

They're working on an egg-free way to make flu vaccine, but haven't been able to scale it up to make it work.