Egg Allergy Is No Longer a Concern with Any Vaccine

Egg allergy usually develops within the first two years of life—precisely the period when most childhood vaccinations are administered. Because of this, children with egg allergy were often subjected to delays in vaccination, which increased their risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases.

In the largest study to date, 171 children with egg allergy, including 24% with a history of anaphylaxis, underwent skin testing with the yellow fever vaccine. All of them were subsequently vaccinated regardless of skin test results, with no allergic reactions observed.

Why Are These Results Important?

The yellow fever vaccine is grown in fertilized chicken eggs, which can leave residual egg proteins in the final product. Compared with other vaccines, the amount of egg protein in the yellow fever vaccine is considered significant. Until now, this raised concerns about its safety for individuals with egg allergy.

Although some vaccines contain trace amounts of egg protein (e.g., influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, and rabies vaccines), the concentrations are too low to cause allergic reactions—even in individuals with severe egg allergy. Based on current evidence, routine testing or delaying vaccination due to egg allergy is no longer recommended. This applies to all vaccines.

Physicians should always be prepared for the rare occurrence of allergic reactions after administration of any vaccine, but no special precautions are required for individuals with egg allergy.

Conclusion

Egg allergy is no longer a reason to delay or withhold any vaccination. Timely immunization remains essential for protecting health.

References

• Ramírez-Giraldo RH, et al. No Yellow Fever Vaccine Reactions in IgE-Mediated Egg Allergic Patients. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2025;186(1):52–58. doi:10.1159/000539505.

• UpToDate. Practice Changing Updates.