Blog Post
Today's Vaccine Ingredients - Made Simple
Vaccine ingredients have fallen under scrutiny in recent years. What is actually inside these immunizations, and why are they included in preparation?
Vaccines typically include five key components: antigens, adjuvants, stabilizers, preservatives, and residual byproducts.
Each of these components has been deemed safe by the FDA, but what does each component do inside the vaccine?
The Five Key Components
Antigens
Whole viruses, bacteria, toxins, or nucleic acids that trigger the body’s immune response. These specific antigens have been designed so they cannot cause the severe illness that the vaccine protects against, even though a portion of the disease is present.
Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Adjuvants
Allow vaccines to be more effective. By including an adjuvant, the immune system’s response can be enhanced, decreasing the quantity of vaccine needed or lowering the number of required doses altogether.
Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Stabilizers
Used in vaccines to protect them during manufacturing, storage, and transportation, ensuring they remain effective when administered. Gelatin is a common stabilizer. Check with your doctor if you suspect that you or your child has a gelatin allergy.
Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Preservatives
Used in some vaccines to prevent inadvertent fungal or bacterial contamination. Note: Thimerosal (a preservative containing mercury) has allowed vaccines to fall under intense scrutiny. Thimerosal was removed from vaccine production as a precaution in the early 2000s.
Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Manufacturing Byproducts
Trace amounts of nutrients and cell byproducts necessary during virus and bacteria creation. Cells must be used to grow viruses. After the virus has grown, purification occurs, but tiny fragments can still be found in minute quantities deemed safe by manufacturers and the FDA.
Source: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
These ingredients play a role in creating the vaccines utilized today. Controversy surrounding vaccines has grown over recent years as children’s health issues have become more common, but the FDA continues to support vaccines and deems them safe year after year.
For specific questions regarding individual vaccines, read more below for unbiased reports on common vaccines in today’s vaccine schedule.
I sincerely hope you found this information helpful!
-Kaitlyn from the ClearHealth Team