New Alternative For Those Allergic To Flu Vaccine
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 NEWS
Updated: January 22, 2013
Bringing this year's fatalities close to 20, but health officials said there's no longer an excuse to not get your shot.
Making it complicated for people who have egg allergies, but the health department said those allergic to eggs can still get the shot.
They said a good test to see whether you'll react negatively is to see how you handle eating things like cookies or cakes that have egg antigens.
For the small percentage of people, officials said about one in a one million, who have a deadly reaction to eggs there's good news for them.
A new option the FDA just approved this week that uses insect-cells as the basis for the vaccine.
"That's hot off the presses," said Dr. Dirk Haselow the state's epidemiologist. "This type of vaccine is made in cell culture rather than eggs and it eliminates the excuse many people use to not get a flu shot in that people who are egg allergic can get a shot."
Even though it has been approved, the new insect-based shot won't be available until the next flu season.
The health department says they can't stress enough that it's not too late to get the shot.
Making it complicated for people who have egg allergies, but the health department said those allergic to eggs can still get the shot.
They said a good test to see whether you'll react negatively is to see how you handle eating things like cookies or cakes that have egg antigens.
For the small percentage of people, officials said about one in a one million, who have a deadly reaction to eggs there's good news for them.
A new option the FDA just approved this week that uses insect-cells as the basis for the vaccine.
"That's hot off the presses," said Dr. Dirk Haselow the state's epidemiologist. "This type of vaccine is made in cell culture rather than eggs and it eliminates the excuse many people use to not get a flu shot in that people who are egg allergic can get a shot."
Even though it has been approved, the new insect-based shot won't be available until the next flu season.
The health department says they can't stress enough that it's not too late to get the shot.
