Flu Shots???

I got a flu shot today, I don't know why, I don't remember ever getting one before, but I was at the dr for a physical and they asked so I said sure since I was already there. There was a question about being alergic to eggs on the consent form and I asked if there was egg in the vaccine and was told there wasn't and that the reason the question is on there is because there is an ingredient in the vaccine that causes a reaction in people who are allergic to eggs. Then afterwards I told my friends mother about getting a flu shot and she said that they weren't vegetarian friendly... is this true? If they aren't theres nothing I can do about it now except not get one ever again.

 

Here is something I found that may help http://www.allergy.org.nz/newsMedia/news/snippets/vaccines.php

"There is cause for concern, however, in administering the influenza vaccine to egg-allergic individuals. The influenza virus is propagated in hen eggs, thus there is a significant risk of contamination of the vaccine with small amounts of egg protein. The flu vaccine should not be administered to individuals who have a known allergy to eggs. The flu vaccine does not contain gelatin."

and....
http://www.foodallergy.org/allergens/egg.html

"I've heard the flu vaccine contains egg, is this true?
Yes, influenza vaccines usually contain a small amount of egg protein."

 

So the nurse was wrong then... great, yet another quam I have with my doctors office... well thanks for the info, so I guess that'd mean that the flu vaccine is ok for vegetarians who eat eggs but not vegetarians who only do milk or especially not vegans.

 

I guess technically one could argue that you aren't ingesting the egg protien... but instead being injected with it, in which case it just wouldn't be suitable for vegans... but then again everything is open to interperitation.... I however have decided not to get another one again, since I quit smoking in the house and then finally quit smoking all together I havn't gotten sick as much anyway. If however it was back where I was a few years ago when I got bronchitis that lasted months at a time and was sick in general a lot it might be a differant story.

And what's this about? Looks like I have some research to do.

 

I interpret their use of "contamination" to mean that the egg protein is NOT a part of the vaccine. Its a question of how careful they are to keep the egg protein out of the vaccine.

If people are concerned, when it gets to that question, ask them "If I am allegic to eggs, what are the options?" There might be vaccine that is made using a different process that egg sensitive people or vegans can use.

 

As your concerned about the shot, rather than a food item, I'm assuming your meaning vegan rather than (dietary) strict-vegetarian, yes? If that's right, then there's almost no way that the vaccination was vegan. It would be a rarity if it was okayed by the FDA without any type of animal testing.

 

I'm not understanding what your question is. I thought that vegans didn't use any animal products.

 

Ok, yes, that's what I meant then when I said that vegans would not want to get a flu shot... as in it wouldn't be acceptable for them since its production has to do with an animal.

 

If animal testing during the approval process makes it un-vegan, does that imply that if your mother ate meat while pregnant, YOU are un-vegan?

 

Hahahahahahaha! See...anything is open to interperetation!

 

well, any human would be non-vegan to consume or if used for production. i don't know abut you, but i'm made of meat