As influenza season approaches, many people will consider getting the flu shot to protect them from the misery of the illness. However, for people with allergy to eggs, the protection the flu shot offers has been limited by potentially severe side effects.

Because the vaccine is grown inside unfertilized eggs, it contains a small amount of egg protein. That doesn't mean protection from flu is out of reach for people with egg allergy, said Mark Huftel, M.D., an allergist at Marshfield Clinic-Wausau Center. It means extra care must be used when giving the vaccine. Although the vaccine can contain egg protein, an allergist can determine whether it still is possible to receive the flu shot, he said.

Each year the flu vaccine changes to help prevent specific strains of flu. Therefore, the amount of egg in the vaccine also may change. Dr. Huftel and other Marshfield Clinic allergists can do a skin test to determine if a patient reacts to the specific flu vaccine. If the skin test is negative, it's easy to administer the vaccine, he said. Other patients may be given a small portion of the vaccine and watched for any sign of reaction. If all goes well, they can receive the balance of the inoculation, Dr. Huftel said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, recommends the vaccine for children and adults who are at high-risk for complications from influenza. This includes chronic conditions of the heart, lungs, diabetes and kidney disease. Family members of those at high risk also should be vaccinated, Dr. Huftel said. The CDC is recommending flu vaccines for more people, lowering the age to start receiving it from 65 to 50 and encouraging women who will be in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during flu season to be vaccinated.