RCP: New recommendations for MMR vaccine in egg-allergic children

The MMR vaccine remains the best form of protection against measles, mumps and rubella infection, yet the uptake of the MMR vaccine is still below targets. As a result children are being exposed to unnecessary suffering and occasional serious consequences as a result of developing these infections.

One reason for the low uptake rate has been the mistaken belief that children with egg allergy cannot be given MMR. The Paediatric Allergy Group of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology has reviewed the evidence and, in fact, there is no evidence that egg allergy is a problem with using MMR. The MMR vaccine is grown on cultured – embryo chick fibroblasts and is therefore generally free of hen’s egg protein. When traces of hen’s egg protein are found, the protein is highly processed and the concentrations are too low to represent a risk of triggering an allergic reaction. Therefore the Paediatric Allergy Group recommends that MMR can be administered safely to all egg-allergic children in primary care, without any special precautions.

Professor John Warner, Chair of The BSACI Paediatric Allergy Group and Professor of Paediatrics at St Mary’s Hospital, London said “Egg-allergic children who have not had problems with other vaccinations can safely be given MMR in primary care. Specialist assessment is only required if any previous vaccinations have resulted in a severe allergic reaction (including any breathing problems or collapse)”.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS: The core aim of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BSACI) is to improve the management of allergic and related diseases in the United Kingdom.

The remit of the BSACI Paediatric Allergy Group is to improve the care of children with allergies.

For more information and to arrange an interview: Contact: Fiona Rayner 0207 404 0278 or mobile: 07814 876577

BSACI website address: www.bsaci.org