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New Flu Vaccine Produced For People With Egg Allergies

By Lynne Adkins

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - People with egg allergies have one less reason to avoid the yearly flu shot.

The regular flu shot is produced in eggs, so it could be life threatening for people with egg allergies to receive the vaccine. Dr. George Martin, chief of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Lankenau Medical Center, says there is now a flu shot made with a different technique.

"The flu vaccine that's currently available for egg antigen sensitive individuals is approved for use in patients between 18 and 49."

He says it won't be readily available at free flu clinics or the local pharmacy, but your allergist should have it or be able to get it for you. And he suggests you do it in the next week or so because flu season is on the way.

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