Some batches of the swine flu vaccine being prepared by Novartis for the 2009 flu season will not include eggs in their production. Rather, they will use a so-called cell-culture process, which doesn't require eggs during any stage of the manufacturing process. However, due to high demand for the new vaccine, it is almost certain that existing manufacturing plants that use eggs to culture inactive viruses for vaccines will continue to produce some doses of flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season.

It is, as yet, unclear whether doctors will be able to specifically request egg-free vaccines for patients with egg allergies. If you do have a severe egg allergy, you and your doctor will need to decide whether the potential risks of a flu vaccine outweigh the benefits of protection against the flu. Some possible alternatives include skin testing to the vaccine itself to see whether a reaction is likely, getting the vaccine in an allergist's office to ensure that emergency treatment is available in the event of a reaction, or having close contacts vaccinated to lower the likelihood of contracting the flu and taking an antiviral such as Tamiflu or Relenza at the first sign of flu symptoms. Your doctor can help you decide which option is best in your particular case.

Egg Allergies and Vaccines Drug Giant Uses Cells To Make H1N1 Vaccine

I attended a wedding this weekend where guests' allergies were addressed in a discreet -- yet effective -- way. The caterers had marked the place cards with codes for different dietary needs (PA for peanut allergy, GF for gluten-free, V for vegetarian) so that at a glance, everyone who served anything to someone at a seat could tell whether there were any unique needs at the table.

While I've been to catered events that were responsive to dietary needs and worked with caterers that were unusually knowledgeable about allergies and other restricted diets, this was one of the most clever and effective solutions I've seen for balancing the need to get meals out efficiently and to indicate who needed the few special plates the kitchen had prepared. Highly recommended if you're planning a wedding where not everyone can eat off a set menu!

I can't seem to turn around on the Interweb these days without reading a breathless essay about how there's a spate of "revolutionary books!" about parents being daring and confessing just how bad they are because they a.) let their kids watch a ton of television, b.) put headphones on their bellies so their kids can listen to the Ramones in the womb, c.) fail to sign their kids up for five million classes, d.) all of the above and more. It's all a little silly from my (decidedly unscientific) perspective because I don't know a perfect parent and I don't know a parent who isn't at least trying their best.

I was thinking about that phenomenon when I read Heather Legg's recent essay on Beyond Allergy about how her own precautions with her child had changed over the years. I thought it was both an interesting take on letting go as kids get older and the worries every single parent has over the decisions they make that affect their kids' futures. Go read it!

Two articles to share with you today:

• Via the Washington Post, an explanation of food allergy immunotherapy featuring interviews with Robert Wood, Hugh Sampson, Wesley Burks, plus families who have undergone experimental immunotherapy treatments: Peanuts, Anyone?
• Via the Times Herald-Record, another for the "articles to send people who need to understand more about food allergies" file: a concise FAQ about everything from whether (and why) the prevalence of food allergies is rising to common warning signs of an allergic reaction: Pediatrician on Allergies: 'Parents Need to Watch Their Children Closely'.