I am not allergic to eggs. My physician's office debated over this at their last meeting, but did not come to any conclusions. I have received the flu shot the last 3-4 years now. Since this is a new recommendation, my fear is that a new discovery will be found in years down the road that it could have been harmful. I look forward to your comments.
Influenza vaccine is prepared by inactivating the virus, and then chemically disrupting it.
It is prepared using egg-based proteins, so can not be given to those allergic to eggs. Currently, influenza vaccine IS NOT universally recommended for all people. This group includes all people over age 65, all people who live in or work in homes for the elderly or chronically ill, all individuals with chronic cardiac or respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, and all individuals with chronic medical disorders. One recent study suggested that there was no increased risk to the mother during first trimester Influenza illness, there was a slightly increased risk of complications requiring hospitalization during the second trimester, but there was a nearly 5-fold increased risks of complications requiring hospitalization if a full term pregnant woman contracted Influenza. This increased risk parallels that of the other high-risk groups mentioned above.