Administering Flu Vaccine After Allergy Shot
You can safely receive a flu vaccine one week after an allergy shot as there are no specific timing restrictions between these two immunizations. 1
Safety of Flu Vaccination After Allergy Shots
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines do not list any contraindications or precautions regarding the timing between allergy shots and influenza vaccination 1
- The only timing-related precaution for influenza vaccines is a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of a previous influenza vaccination 1
- Moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever is a general precaution for vaccination, but routine allergy shots do not fall into this category 1
Contraindications for Flu Vaccination
The only absolute contraindications for influenza vaccines are:
- History of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to a previous dose of any influenza vaccine or to any component of the specific vaccine you're receiving 1
- For live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV/nasal spray) only: additional contraindications include concomitant aspirin therapy in children/adolescents and certain medical conditions 1
Considerations for People with Allergies
- If you have a history of egg allergy, you can still receive any age-appropriate influenza vaccine, regardless of the severity of your egg allergy 1
- For those with severe allergic reactions to previous influenza vaccines, consultation with an allergist is recommended before receiving future doses 2
- Having a positive patch test to formaldehyde (which may be present in trace amounts in some vaccines) does not prevent safe administration of formaldehyde-containing vaccines 3
Best Practices for Vaccination
- All vaccines should be administered in settings where personnel and equipment for managing acute hypersensitivity reactions are available 1
- While no specific observation period is recommended for people with egg allergies, ACIP suggests observing all vaccine recipients for 15 minutes after vaccination to reduce risk of injury should syncope occur 1
- If you experience any unusual symptoms after your allergy shot, inform your healthcare provider before receiving the flu vaccine 4
Timing Considerations for Flu Vaccination
- For optimal protection during flu season, vaccination is ideally administered before influenza begins circulating in your community 5
- There is no need to delay influenza vaccination due to recent allergy immunotherapy 1
- The immune response to influenza vaccination peaks at 2-4 weeks after vaccination in previously vaccinated individuals 4
Remember that while mild side effects like soreness at the injection site, mild fever, or feeling unwell for 1-2 days can occur after flu vaccination, these are normal immune responses and not allergic reactions 6.