Prevenar 20 and Egg Allergy
Prevenar 20 (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) can be safely administered to patients with egg allergy without any special precautions, as it does not contain egg protein and is not manufactured using eggs.
Why Egg Allergy is Not a Concern for Prevenar 20
Prevenar 20 is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that is not produced using chicken eggs or egg-based manufacturing processes. 1
Egg allergy concerns are specific only to vaccines grown in chick embryos or embryonic tissues, such as influenza vaccines, yellow fever vaccine, and certain rabies vaccines. 1
The contraindications for pneumococcal vaccines do not include egg allergy—they are limited to severe allergic reactions to vaccine components or previous doses of the specific vaccine itself. 1
Standard Administration Protocol
Administer Prevenar 20 using standard vaccination protocols without any modifications for patients with egg allergy. 1
No skin testing with the vaccine is required. 1
No extended observation period beyond standard post-vaccination monitoring (typically 15 minutes) is necessary. 2
The vaccine should be administered in settings where personnel and equipment for rapid recognition and treatment of acute hypersensitivity reactions are available, as recommended for all vaccines regardless of allergy history. 2
Critical Distinction: Actual Contraindications to Prevenar 20
The only true contraindication to Prevenar 20 is a history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any component of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine itself or to a previous dose of Prevenar 20. 2
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse egg allergy considerations for influenza vaccines with pneumococcal vaccines. These vaccines have entirely different manufacturing processes—influenza vaccines are produced in embryonated chicken eggs, while pneumococcal conjugate vaccines like Prevenar 20 do not contain egg protein. 2, 1, 3