Can you have a flu shot if you are allergic to erythromycin?

Answer 1

In most cases, yes. However there is a small amount of residual Gentamycin in one of the nasal spray vaccines. The contents vary by manufacturer and product. The one approved for use in the US that contains Gentamycin has these ingredients:

MedImmuneThe ingredients in the Nasal Spray vaccine according to the manufacturer, MedImmune, LLC, the Maryland US based Subsidiary of London's AstraZeneca:

Each 0.2 mL dose contains 106.5-7.5 FFU of the live attenuated influenza virus reassortant of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus:

["attenuated" means weakened to be non-infective]

A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)v. Each 0.2 mL dose also contains 0.188 mg/dose monosodium glutamate, 2.00 mg/dose hydrolyzed porcine Gelatin, 2.42 mg/dose arginine, 13.68 mg/dose sucrose, 2.26 mg/dose dibasic potassium phosphate, 0.96 mg/dose monobasic potassium phosphate, and <0.015 mcg/mL gentamicin sulfate. The vaccine contains no preservatives.

You may need to consult your physician before you get this type of vaccine to determine if the amount of Gentamycin could cause an allergic reaction in your case.

See the related question below about ingredients in the flu vaccines (the seasonal flu vaccines are made the same way as the H1N1/09 vaccines were made, so the ingredients are the same except for the specific virus particles that vary from vaccine to vaccine.)

Answer 2

Yes, but talk to your doctor if you are not sure.