Experts say MMR vaccine is safe for egg-allergic children

The Paediatric Allergy Group of the BSACI (British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology) have failed to find any evidence that the MMR vaccine can pose a problem to egg-allergic children. Their recent review has led to the publication of the following recommendations:

The MMR vaccination may be administered to all egg-allergic children as a routine procedure.

The MMR vaccine is grown on cultured chick embryos and therefore contains no hen's egg protein, or extremely low amounts. The administration of MMR vaccines to egg-allergic children has an excellent safety record.

As with the administration of other vaccines, MMR administration should be postponed if children are unwell. Adrenaline should be readily available at the clinical site in all cases because anaphylaxis - although rare and unpredictable - can occur.

If previous vaccination (MMR or other) resulted in a severe allergic reaction (any breathing problems or collapse) then a specialist allergy assessment is required prior to repeat hospital-based MMR administration (in order to exclude allergy to specific vaccine components such as neomycin or gelatine).