Egg-allergic patients seeking safe H1N1 shots

H1N1 SPECIAL SECTION
FIND A FLU CLINIC
AURORA - As the H1N1 vaccine is slowly becoming more available, it appears one group who needs it most is still unable to get it in many cases.

Those allergic to eggs and who suffer from asthma must go through their allergists to get the vaccine, and many doctors just don't have any doses available.

Dr. David Fleischer, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish, says they don't have any H1N1 vaccine to give their patients right now.

"So they have to find the vaccine at their pediatrician's office and maybe get it shipped to us here so it's a lot harder and more time consuming and expensive to get it done," Fleischer said.

Allison Cooper's 4-year-old daughter Rachel is allergic to eggs and has asthma. She's tried for weeks to get her daughter vaccinated.

"I've been calling places daily for weeks now and it's frustrating and it's scary - it's honestly something that keeps me up at night," Cooper said.

A common cold can land Rachel in the hospital and her parents worry how the H1N1 virus would affect her.

After talking with their doctor they decided it was best Rachel not attend preschool this year.

"It's upsetting to see that these children are not getting what the need," Sara Rydahl-Kim said.

Rydahl-Kim has run into the similar problems trying to get her 5-year-old vaccinated this year.

"I've found the vaccine. It's more of an issue getting it transferred to someone who can actually give it to her safely," Rydahl-Kim said.

Anyone with an egg allergy is advised to get the H1N1 vaccine through an allergist, so they can do a skin test to see how your body will react to the vaccine which contains an unknown amount of egg protein.

Fleischer says there have been cases where egg-allergic patients have gotten the shot at a clinic and have had severe reactions.

Cooper and Rydahl-Kim just hope they can keep there daughters well as they wait for the vaccine to end up in the right hands.

"As a mother, you want to do everything you can to protect your child," Cooper said.

Fleischer said, "We're asking for patience, we're working the best we can, and we'll get everybody in as soon as we can."