Additives Found in Vaccines

Pavan AngadiJoseph Kim

Kenna LositoPhung Vo

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Title

Introduction

About site

This site is dedicated to looking at the different additives and preservatives found in vaccines and medication.

To know more about our purpose please click

Instructions to Site

To look at the information about preservatives and additives please click on any of the green titles.

What are Additives?

Medication with Preservatives and Additives

Common Preservatives and Additives

Vaccines and Excipients

References

Discussion Adverse Effects

here.

Reason for Adverse Side Effects

Title>Introduction

Purpose

Our purpose is to make known the different types of additives in vaccines

To concern some of substances contained in vaccine might be harmful or harmless

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Title>Introduction>Purpose

Types of Additives

What are Additives?

Millions of doses of vaccines are administered to children in this country each year. Ensuring that those vaccines are potent, sterile, and safe may require the addition of minute amounts of additives.

Substances are added to vaccines to enhance the immune response, to prevent microbial contamination, and to stabilize the vaccine formulation.

The amount of additives found in vaccines is usually small.

~CDC

Types of Additives

Stabilizers

Other Substances

Antibiotics

Adjuvants

Click on the following additives to go to a description.

Preservatives

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Title>Introduction>Types of Additives

Preservatives

Such as thimerosal or 2-phenoxy ethanol, are added to slow or stop the growth of bacteria or fungi resulting from inadvertent contamination, especially as might occur with vaccine vials intended for multiple uses or doses.

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Title>Introduction>Types of Additives>Preservatives

Stabilizers

Such as lactose or monosodium glutamate (MSG), are added to stabilize the vaccine formulation against a variety of conditions, such as temperature variations or a freeze-drying process.

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Title>Introduction>Types of Additives>Stabilizers

Adjuvants

Such as aluminum hydroxide or aluminum phosphate, are added to increase the ability of the vaccine to trigger, enhance, or prolong an immune response.

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Title>Introduction>Types of Additives>Adjuvants

Antibiotics

Such as neomycin and streptomycin, are added to prevent the potentially harmful growth of germs.

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Title>Introduction>Types of Additives>Antibiotics

Other Substances

Vaccines may also include a suspending fluid such as sterile water or saline. They may also contain small amounts of residual materials from the manufacturing process, such as cell or bacterial proteins, egg proteins, DNA or RNA, formaldehyde from a toxoiding process, etc;

Although these materials are not "additives”, they may be present in vaccine formulations.

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Title>Introduction>Types of Additives>Other Substances

Common Preservatives and Additives

Formaldehyde

Click on the following to get a description

Thimerosal

Aluminum

Gelatin

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Title>Introduction>Common Preservatives and Additives

Thimerosal

Preservative used in vaccines since 1930’s; introduced by Eli Lilly Company (immunize.org)

Used to prevent contamination or growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi (FDA)

Used in concentrations of 0.003% to 0.01%; containing approximately 25 micrograms of mercury per 0.5ml dose (immunize.org)

Mercury in form of thimerosal is readily absorbed and distributed into the blood and brain (NIAID)

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Title>Introduction>Common Preservatives and Additives>Thimerosal

Thimerosal cont.

Mecury in gaseous state is highly toxic because it dissolves easily in lipids and is absorbed very easily by red blood cells and nerve cells

Thimerosal causes susceptible bacteria to break down their own cells with self-produced enzymes via an unknown mechanism (Bhavya)

It is suspected that the ethylmercury, the greater toxicant, reacts with sulphydryl groups on enzymes and the sodium binds back with the thiosalicylate which eventually passes through the body (Bhavya)

May cause neurological abnormalities such as autism (Xing)

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Title>Introduction>Common Preservatives and Additives>Thimerosal cont.

Gelatin

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Title>Introduction>Common Preservatives and Additives>Gelatin

Aluminum

Aluminum is the most abundant metal element that it is in food, air, soil, and water.

All infants are also exposed to aluminum by breast feeding (approximately 40 um Aluminum per liter) or infant formulas (about 225 um aluminum per liter).

Aluminum salts are added to vaccines because it enhances the immune response.

Without the salts the vaccine would not work properly. Therefore, aluminum salts in vaccine are regularly injected to children against hepatitis, DTP, influenza, and pneumonia.

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Title>Introduction>Common Preservatives and Additives>Aluminum

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a product of human metabolism, and also used for the synthesis of thymidine, purines, and amino acids. All humans are exposed to it from household products and pollution. We all have certain amount of it in our blood

2.5 ug/ml, which is greater than injecting any vaccine.

In vaccines it is used as an inactivating agent that can remove harmful bacteria and kill infectious viruses by stopping replication. Formaldehyde does not cause the cancer in human. The safe amount for infants to be exposed at one time may be as high as 0.2 mg.

However, a high concentration can damage DNA, and also cause cancer.

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Title>Introduction>Common Preservatives and Additives>Formaldehyde

Medication with Preservatives and Additives

These medicines can trigger allergic reactions, upset stomachs and diarrhea.

Azo dye coloring has been found in many medications such as Anbesol teething Gel, Buttercup infant cough syrup, calpol paracetamol, Sudafed Children;s syrup and super drug Children’s chesty cough syrup.

Sweetners were found in other products such as Morrisons Junior Paracetamol, and Superdrug Junior Paracetamol Suspension. This mixture of four sweetners has a laxative effect in high doses.

Benzoates, a preservative added to many medications, interestingly enough are listed as E210 to E219 in the listed ingredients. Some medications contain benzoate and

sulphite preservatives, medications such as Tyxilix Night Cough Syrup.

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Title>Introduction>Medications w/ Preservatives and Additives

Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary

Next pageAdapted from Grabenstein JD. ImmunoFacts: Vaccines & Immunologic Drugs. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Health Inc.; 2006 and individual products’ package inserts.

Title>Introduction>Vaccines and Excipients

Vaccine Excipient & Media Summary cont.

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Adapted from Grabenstein JD. ImmunoFacts: Vaccines & Immunologic Drugs. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Health Inc.; 2006 and individual products’ package inserts.

Title>Introduction>Vaccines and Excipients cont.

Reason for Side Effects

Reasons for large variation in degrees of damage: Great genetic variations in recipients,

affecting susceptibility in general and susceptibility to specific vaccines

Variations within one recipient from one time to another Due to biorhythms, the immune system

fighting other infections, how many vaccines have already been given, and

Variations between vaccine batches There is an acknowledged weakness

controlled levels of toxins in vaccines, resulting in some batches being labeled "hot lots".

(Sadly even this identification does not necessarily result in recalls, but rather in distributing the "hot lot" as broadly as possible, as revealed in a leaked letter from a pharmaceutical company.)

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Title>Introduction>Reasons for Side Effects

Discussion on Vaccines

Positive

There are many different reasons for administering vaccines. The ultimate deciding factor is if the benefits out-weigh the costs.

Many of these vaccines that contain additives in very small doses and therefore are not extremely harmful to the general population.

Vaccines can also help control many epidemics and diseases that couldn’t be stopped before.

Many of the compounds found in vaccines are already found in our bodies, sometimes at a lower rate and sometimes at a higher.

The majority of the vaccines and drugs that contain harmful additives or preservatives are not on the currently actively used list. 

Negative

On the other hand vaccines have been known to cause serious discomfort when administered.

Beyond immediate discomfort there are long-term toxic effects of certain vaccines and drugs, such as altering proteins, which can lead to many different bodily malfunctions.

Some toxins will accumulate and stay within the body for a lifetime, such as mercury one of the deadliest poisons.

Many time vaccines create susceptible periods where other infections and diseases can occur.

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Adverse Effects

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Click on any of the following to look at specifics

Mercury

Phenol

2-Phenoxyethanol

Formaldehyde Sulfate and Phosphate Compounds

Ammonium Sulfate

Neomycin Sulfate

Sorbitol

Glutaraldehyde

Polysorbate 20/80

Beta-Propioacetone

Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects

Formaldehyde

National Research Council: Fewer than 20% but perhaps more than

10% of the general population may be susceptible to formaldehyde and may react acutely at any exposure level.

It is oxidised to formic acid which leads to acidosis and nerve damage. Acidosis can be described as a condition

in which the acidity of the body tissues and fluids is abnormally high. The liver and the kidneys may also be

damaged

Symptoms of exposure: Eye; nasal; throat and pulmonary irritation; acute sense of smell; alters tissue proteins; anaemia; antibodies formation; apathy; blindness; blood in urine; blurred vision; body aches; bronchial spasms; bronchitis; burns nasal and throat; cardiac impairment; palpitations and arrhythmias; central nervous system depression; changes in higher cognitive functions; chemical sensitivity; chest pains and tightness; chronic vaginitis; colds; coma; conjunctivitis; constipation; convulsions; corneal erosion; cough; death; destruction of red blood cells;

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Formaldehyde

Mercury (Thimerosal)

Mercury is the second most poisonous element known to man (next to uranium and its derivatives). Neurons are observed to disintegrate in its presence. It has also been found to cause changes to chromosomes.Symptoms of exposure to this class of compounds includes aphthous, stomatitis, catarrhal gingivitis,

nausea, liquid stools, pain, liver disorder, injury to the cardiovascular system and hematopoietic system, deafness and ataxia.

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Mercury

2-Phenoxyethanol

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>2-Phenoxyethanol

Phenol

Suspected- Cardiovascular or blood toxicant aka Carbolic Acid, developmental toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant, skin or sense organ toxicant.

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Glutaraldehyde

Poisonous if ingested

Causes birth defects in experimental animals

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Glutaraldehyde

Sulfate and Phosphate Compounds

Ammonium Sulfate gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory

toxicant

Neomycin Sulfate An antibiotic. Interferes with Vitamin B6 absorption.

An error in the uptake of B6 can cause a rare form of epilepsy and mental retardation.

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Sulfate and Phosphate Compounds

Polysorbate 20/80

Suspected- Skin or sense organ toxicant Known to cause cancer in animals

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Polysorbate 20/80

Beta-Propiolacetone

Recognized- carcinogen

Suspected - gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, respiratory toxicant, skin or sense organ toxicant.

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Beta-Propiolacetone

Sorbitol

Suspected- gastrointestinal or liver toxicant

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Title>Introduction>Adverse Effects>Sorbitol

References Xing Wu, Hong Liang, Kimberley A. O’Hara, Jack C. Yalowich, Brian B. Hasinoff. January 16, 2008. Thiol-Modulated Mechanisms of the

Cytotoxicity of Thimerosal and Inhibition of DNA Topoisomerase IIa. Chemical Research in Toxicology. Volume 21: 2 pp. 483-493.

Bhavya, Kashyap. 2006. Mechanisms of Action. The Truth About Thimerosal.

Vaccine Concerns:Thimerosal. April 25, 2008. Immunization Action Coalition.

Dunkin, Daniel. August 11, 2008. Gelatin in Vaccines. Associated Content.

Vitali Pool, M. Miles Braun, John M. Kelso, Gina Mootrey, Robert T. Chen, John W. Yunginger, Robert M. Jacobson, Paul M. Gargiullo. December 6, 2002. Prevalence of Anti-Gelatin IgE Antibodies in People with Anaphylaxis after Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine in the United States. Pediatrics. Vol. 110: No. 6 pp e71.

Thimerosal in Vaccines. U.S Food and Drug Administartion. Januray 29, 2009 http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm

Elliot, Valorie. Banned additives in Children Medicines. March 10, 2007. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1495075.ece

“Formaldehyde.” Eco-USA.NET. 1999. Retrieved by 02 Mar. 2009 from http://www.eco-usa.net/toxics/formald.shtml

Offit, P., Jew, R. “Addressing Parents’ Concerns: Do Vaccines Contain Harmful Preservatives, Adjuvants, Additives, or residuals?” Pediatrics. 112. 6 (2003): 1394-1397.

Offit, P. “Hot Topics: Formaldehyde”Vaccine Education Center. 2008. The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Retrieved by 02 Mar. 2009 fromhttp://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=75809

“Vaccine Components (Aluminum Adjuvants in Vaccines)” National Network for ImmunizationInformation. 2008. Retrieved by 02 Mar. 2009 fromhttp://www.immunizationinfo.org/vaccine_components_detail.cfv?id=61

“Vaccine Ingredients” Vaccine Information Services http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/ingredie.html Retrives by 02 May 2009

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Title>Introduction>References