Think You Might Be Allergic to the Flu Vaccine? 

Allergy & Asthma Specialists offer valuable advice.

The flu (influenza) is a contagious disease that spreads throughout the United States every October through May.  Each year thousands of people in the United States die from the flu and may more are hospitalized. 

The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu. The vaccine is recommended every year because the flu viruses are always changing. Some children 6 months through 8 years of age might need two vaccinations in one year. It takes about two weeks following the injection for the protection to develop and lasts several months.

The flu vaccine comes in two different forms: an “inactivated” or recombinant injectable flu vaccine and a weakened “live virus” nasal spray.  

If you have ever had an allergic reaction to eggs or gelatin, you should not take the nasal spray.  You should only receive the inactivated injectable flu vaccine after discussion with and under the supervision of a board certified allergist.  At the visit with the allergist, the allergic reaction you have experienced will be evaluated and the influenza vaccine will be administered. Depending on the severity of the egg reaction by history, you might be skin tested with the vaccine first.  Once the injection is administered, you will need to stay in the office for at least 30 minutes following the injection to be closely monitored by the allergist for an allergic reaction. 

Flu vaccine is now available to all patients of Allergy & Asthma Specialists and their families. 
All physicians of Allergy & Asthma Specialists are fellowship-trained, board certified allergists/immunologists.  Allergy doctors at this premier medical practice provide comprehensive allergy and asthma diagnostics and state of the art treatment, including two types of immunotherapy, at offices located in Center City Philadelphia, Blue Bell, King of Prussia, Jenkintown, Doylestown, Lansdale, Pottstown, and Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Schedule today online at www.AllergyandAsthmaWellness.com or by calling 1-800-86COUGH.