EK
VACCINE INGREDIENTS …AND THEIR CHEMICAL PROFILES
Compiled By Arthur M. Evangelista, a former FDA Investigator
Posted: 28 May 2004
VACCINE INGREDIENTS
Source: 1997 Physicians’ Desk Reference
Toll Free Numbers can be called to obtain product inserts.
This is a representative, not a comprehensive, list of the various types of vaccines.
Acel-Immune
DTaP
Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed
Lederle Laboratories
1-800-934-5556
produced using formaldehyde, thimerosal, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, polysorbate 80, gelatin (animal parts/bovine)
Act HIB
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate
Connaught Laboratories
1-800-822-2463
produced using ammonium sulfate, formalin, sucrose, thimerosal
medium: semi-synthetic
Attenuvax
Measles Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co, Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolized gelatin
medium: chick embryo
DPT
Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals
1-800-366-8900 ext. 5231
produced using aluminum phosphate, formaldehyde, ammonium sulfate, washed sheep red blood cells, glycerol, sodium chloride, thimerosal
medium: porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolysate of casein
Energix-B
Hepatitis B
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals
1-800-633-8900 ext. 5231
produced using aluminum hydroxide, thimerosal
medium: yeast (possibly 5% residual)
Havrix
Hepatitis A
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals
1-800-633-8900 ext. 5231
produced using formalin, aluminum hydroxide, phenoxyethanol (antifreeze), polysorbate 20, residual MRC5 proteins (from medium)
medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Biavax
Rubella and Mumps Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co, Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolized gelatin
medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
HibTiter
Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib)
Lederle Laboratories
1-800-934-5556
produced using polyribosylribitol, ammonium sulfate, thimerosal
medium: chemically defined, yeast based
Fluvirin
Influenza Virus Vaccine
Medeva Pharmaceuticals
1-888-MEDEVA
(716)274-5300
produced using embryonic fluid (chicken egg), neomycin, polymyxin, thimerosal, betapropiolactone
medium: embryonic fluid (chicken egg)
FluShield
Influenza Virus Vaccine, Trivalent, Types A&B
Wyeth-Ayerst
1-800-934-5556
produced using gentamicin sulfate, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80, tri(n)butylphosphate, thimerosal
medium: chick embryos
IPOL
Inactivated Polio Vaccine
Connaught Laboratories
1-800-822-2463
produced using 3 types of polio virus, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol (antifreeze), neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B
medium: VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells
MMR
Measles Mumps Rubella Live Virus Vaccine
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372 produced using sorbitol, neomycin, hydrolyzed gelatin
mediums: M&M – chick embryo
Rubella – human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
M-R-Vax
Measles and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin
mediums: M – chick embryo
R – human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Menomune
Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine
Connaught Laboratories
1-800-822-2463
produced using thimerosal, lactose
medium: freeze dried polysaccharride antigens from Neisseria Meningitidis
Meruvax II
Rubella Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin
medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Mumpsvax
Mumps Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolyzed gelatin
medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Orimune
Poliovirus Vaccine Live Oral Trivalent
Lederle Laboratories
1-800-934-5556
produced using 3 types of attenuated polioviruses, streptomycin, neomycin, calf serum, sorbitol
medium: monkey kidney cell culture
Pneumovax
Pneumococcal Vaccine Polyvalent
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using phenol and capsular polysaccharides from the 23 most prevalent pneumococcal types
Imovax
Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed
Connaught Laboratories
1-800-822-2463
produced using human albumin, neomycin sulfate, phenol red indicator
medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals
1-800-366-8900 ext. 5231
produced using betapropiolactone, aluminum phosphate, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicylate (thimerosal), phenol red
medium: fetal rhesus monkey lung cells
Recombivax
Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using thimerosal, aluminum hydroxide
medium: yeast (residual < 1% yeast protein)
RotaShield
Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral, Tetravalent
Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories
1-800-934-5556
produced using 1 rhesus monkey rotavirus, 3 rhesus-human reassortant viruses, sucrose, monosodium glutamate (MSG), potassium monophosphate, potassium diphosphate, fetal bovine serum, neomycin sulfate, amphotericin B
medium: fetal rhesus diploid cell line
Varivax
Varicella Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co., Inc.
1-800-672-6372
produced using sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, processed gelatin
medium: human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Chemical Profiles and Definitions
visit http://www.scorecard.org/ to investigate chemical profiles
Sources: EDF (Environmental Defense Fund) & MME (Mosby’s Medical Encyclopedia)
Ammonium Sulfate: EDF Suspected – gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant
Amphotericin B: MME definintion – “a drug used to treat fungus infections. Known allergy to this drug prohibits use. Side effects include blood clots, blood defects, kidney problems, nausea and fever. When used on the skin, allergic reactions can occur.”
Aluminum: EDF Suspected – cardiovascular, or blood toxicant, neurotoxicant, respiratory toxicant.
More hazardous than most chemicals in 2 out of 6 ranking systems.
On at least 2 federal regulatory lists.
Beta-Propiolactone: EDF Recognized – carcinogen
EDF Suspected – gastrointestinal or liver toxicant; respiratory toxicant; skin or sense organ toxicant.
More hazardous than most chemicals in 3 out of 3 ranking systems.
On at least 5 federal regulatory lists ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to humans.
Formaldehyde: EDF Recognized – carcinogen
Suspected – gastrointestinal or liver toxicant; immunotoxicant, neurotoxicant, reproductive toxicant; respiratory toxicant; skin or sense organ toxicant.
More hazardous than most chemicals in 5 out of 12 ranking systems.
On at least 8 federal regulatory lists ranked as one of the most hazardous compounds (worst 10%) to ecosystems and human health.
Gentamicin Sulfate: an antibiotic
Hydrolyzed Gelatin: obtained from selected pieces of calf and cattle skins, de-mineralized cattle bones (ossein) and porkskin.
Neomycin: an antibiotic
Phenol : EDF Suspected – cardiovascular or blood toxicant aka Carbolic Acid – developmental toxicant, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant respiratory toxicant, skin or sense organ toxicant.
More hazardous than most chemicals in 3 out of 10 ranking systems.
On at least 8 federal regulatory lists.
Phenoxyethanol: EDF Suspected – developmental toxicant, reproductive toxicant (aka: Antifreeze).
Less hazardous than most chemicals in 3 ranking systems.
Polyribosylribitol: a component of the Hib bacterium
Polymyxin: an antibiotic
Polysorbate: EDF Suspected – skin or sense organ toxicant
Sorbitol: EDF Suspected – gastrointestinal or liver toxicant.
Less hazardous than most chemicals in 1 ranking system.
Streptomycin: an antibiotic
Sucrose: refined sugar
Thimerosal: EDF Recognized – developmental toxicant. Suspected – skin or sense organ toxicant.
Tri(n)butylphosphate: EDF Suspected – kidney toxicant neurotoxicant.
More hazardous than most chemicals in 2 out of 3 ranking systems.
On at least 1 federal regulatory list.
“We have a duty to look after each other. If we lose control of our government, then we lose our ability to dispense justice and human kindness. Our first priority today, then, is to defeat utterly those forces of greed and corruption that have come between us and our self-governance