Ask An Expert: Diabetes and Pneumonia Vaccine

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Ask An Expert: Diabetes and Pneumonia Vaccine

Question:

I am a diabetic, and am allergic to eggs, which prevents my getting a flu shot. Can I receive a pneumonia shot? Also, are flu shots the only available medical preventative for the flu?

Answer:

The vaccine that is protective against bacterial pneumonia ("Pneumovax") is not manufactured using egg or egg proteins. It is absolutely fine for you to receive the vaccine if you have an egg allergy.

Since both the flu shot (by various manufacturers) and the nasal spray flu vaccine (FluMist) contain egg products, people who are allergic to eggs should not get the flu vaccine.

There are three anti-virus medications that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent influenza — oseltamivir (Tamiflu), amantadine (Symmetrel) and rimantadine (Flumadine).

These medicines are partially effective at preventing influenza. However, if you want a pill to prevent flu, then you will have to take it for many days. This can get expensive and inconvenient.

One strategy that has reduced flu in studies is to take daily oseltamivir for six weeks. For six weeks of treatment, the cost of this particular drug for an individual is approximately $300.

Another strategy is to try using oseltamivir for 10 days, beginning if and when a person in your household gets sick with the flu. This shorter course of treatment costs about $75.

Daily oseltamivir can help to protect you from catching the bug from your family member for the 10 days you take it. After those 10 days, though, if flu continues to be passed around within your community you are still at risk. Just like a bicycle helmet, an antiviral drug can only protect you at the times you are using it.

Mary Pickett, M.D., is a lecturer for Harvard Medical School and an assistant professor of medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR. At OHSU, she practices general internal medicine and teaches medical residents and students.

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Last updated:	January 24, 2007

Medical content reviewed by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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