Can steroid shots for allergic rhinitis at the beginning of allergy season be considered standard of care? is there good data backing these up?

Contraversial: There are doctors who almost never use steroids and those who use them very readily. I belong to the first group and feel that addressing the cause of an ailment gives a better result. Seasonal allergy can be helped in many non steroidal ways. One i like a lot (and it tastes good) is a teaspoon of local honey every morning on empty stomach for 18 months or till desensitized to pollen

Depends: Since there are so many effective nasal sprays and oral medication for hay fever, giving steroid injection pre-seasonal is likely not the best solution because of the many potential side effects with injectable steroid. On the other hand, if you are getting the injection only once a year and have no problem with osteoporosis or brittle diabetes, the side effects may be acceptable.

No!!!!: Steroid shots such as kenalog (triamcinolone) are not a good practice for the management of allergies. Ongoing use of such shots can increase the risk for osteoporosis and cataract development. Getting a shot like this a few times in a lifetime is probably okay, but beyond that it can be bad for your health. Consider seeing an allergist to discuss other treatment options.