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Influenza vaccine found safe in children with egg allergy

Live-attenuated influenza vaccine appeared to be safe for use in children with egg allergy and well tolerated in children with asthma, according to recent study results.

Researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a phase 4 open-label study of live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in children aged 2 to 17 years from September 2013 to January 2014. The participants were taken from 12 hospital-based allergy centers across the U.K. to see if they would experience adverse events shortly after administration of LAIV in children with egg allergy.

There were 433 doses administered to 282 children. Each child had proof of egg allergy at immunization, and 67% of the participants also were diagnosed with asthma or wheezing.

Fourteen adverse events, including rhinitis and urticaria, in 14 children were reported within 2 hours of receiving the vaccine. All were mild and subsided.

Ninety-one children had a delayed adverse event after at least one dose within a 72-hour period. The majority were lower respiratory tract symptoms, and none was considered serious nor required presentation to a hospital.

Children with asthma were no more likely to experience any adverse events than children without asthma, the researchers reported.

“In this highly atopic cohort of children with egg allergy, there were no systemic allergic reactions or episodes of anaphylaxis after administration of LAIV,” the researchers wrote. “These data have demonstrated a safety profile in terms of systemic allergic reactions to LAIV in children with egg allergy, including those with a prior history of anaphylaxis, similar to that previously reported for children without egg allergy.” – by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: Turner reports receiving research support from the United Kingdom Department of Health, the UK Medical Research Council, and the National Institute for Health Research. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.