Is the H1N1 Vaccine Safe For Your Allergic Child?

The long awaited H1N1 vaccine is being rolled out this week in Indiana and Tennessee. One of the first priorities for vaccination is young children, and many schools are planning to implement vaccination programs in the coming weeks. However, as with any vaccine or medicine, parents of food allergic children need to be cautious.

Since the serum for the vaccine is incubated in eggs, Dr. Calman Prussin, an asthma specialist at the National Institutes of Health who's also an expert in vaccine side effects.recommends that children with egg allergies not get the flu vaccine in either the nasal mist or injection form. If your child has a less severe egg allergy, you may be able to consult with an allergist to determine if the vaccine dose can be divided into safe increments.

If you have a child that is not able to be vaccinated, it is important to take basic preventative measures such as hand washing, covering your mouth and staying home when sick to keep them healthy.

Are you planning on having your children vaccinated for H1N1?

-Nita