Administration of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine (Live) to Egg-Allergic Children

DURING the first year of life, egg allergy is one of the most common food allergies in atopic children.1Since the attenuated measles and mumps components of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) virus vaccine (live) are grown in cell cultures of chick embryos, concerns have been raised regarding the safety of administering the MMR vaccine to eggallergic children. Initially, it was believed that egg-allergic children could safely receive the vaccine.2,3However, it has since become apparent that reactions to the MMR vaccine can occur in egg-allergic individuals.4The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "persons with a history of anaphylactic reactions (eg, urticaria, swelling of the mouth and throat, wheezing, laryngospasm, hypotension, or shock) following egg ingestion should not be vaccinated until they have been skin-tested."5Because of the effectiveness of vaccines in preventive medicine, ways of safely administering vaccine grown in avian embryos to