Egg allergies are no excuse says health department

By Khanyisa Tabata
12 April 2010

Health department in the Western Cape says some of its health care professionals have been reluctant to immunise infants against measles if there is a history of egg allergies or even if the child has not yet eaten egg before.

Health Department spokesperson Faiza Steyn says this has resulted in many parents and care givers of children with egg allergies have chosen not to immunise their children against measles, putting these children at risk of contracting measles and reducing the immunity in the community as a whole.

“Egg allergy is one of the most frequent food allergies in children below the age of three. The egg white is the major source of allergens in egg.

“The virus strain currently used in the measles vaccine is prepared in a chick-embryo cell culture and does not contain significant amounts of egg cross-reacting proteins,” said Steyn.

Steyn added that most children with a history of egg allergy do not have untoward reactions to measles vaccine. Therefore, children with egg allergies should be vaccinated in the usual manner and without any delay or postponement.

Children who have had an anaphylactic reaction to a prior vaccination should be immunized only in settings in which resuscitation facilities are available.