What's Really in the Flu Vaccine?

would not get vaccinated for COVID nineteen. A Pew Research Center study released in September reported that nearly half definitely or probably would not. The persistence of anti vaccine sentiment, partly based on mistrust of vaccine ingredients, is likely contributing to this hesitancy, and the lack of trust is especially

upsetting to public health officials, doctors, and other scientists. The issue is not just troubling, but so frustrating because a major reason for vaccine reluctance sprang from a debunked, retracted, and outright false article. Even though the study that that article reported on was discredited a decade ago, Undoing the damage has been difficult. The whole situation showed how easy it is to disseminate incorrect information, particularly over the Internet.

The authors of today's episode are drug information pharmacists, and as such, they wanted to review the ingredients that have caused so much controversy and to remind you that this is a great time to get your flu vaccine. As coronavirus cases sore, threatening not only lives, but the ability of hospitals to care for them. Getting a flu vaccine is a crucial part of self care and healthcare. So let's start with the basics. The flu vaccine is different

every year. That's because there are different types of viruses and strains of each virus. The flu vaccine is different every year, and that's because there are different types of viruses and strains of each virus. The contents of the vaccine depend on the kind of flu that has been circulating in any given year. The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee determines vaccine for the coming flu season using the best scientific evidence at hand to determine

which virus strains should be included. To mass produce the flu vaccine, a large amount of virus needs to be replicated. Vaccine manufacturers do this in chicken eggs or in animal cell lines, from which the virus can then be harvested. The final product may contain trace amounts of egg protein. Even individuals with egg allergies can usually receive these vaccines. However, for those with severe allergy to egg proteins, flu vaccines

that don't contain egg protein are available. The finished flu vaccines carry a killed or dead version of the virus. In turn, your body mounts an immune response, but the vaccine cannot cause the flu because the virus is killed. One flu vaccine administered as a nasal spray called flu mist does contain a weakened form of the live virus. In healthy people, this won't cause the flu, but it can cause runny or stuffy nose, headache, and sore throat.

The live weakened flu vaccine should not be used if you have a weakened immune system or caring for someone with a compromised immune system. Chemical agents are used to enactivate the virus, but the amount of any inactivating agent in the finished flu vaccine is negligible. One common agent used is formaldehyde, but don't worry, higher levels of formaldehyde are naturally found in fruits. An average apple contains six hundred times more formaldehyde than is found in a dose

a flu vaccine. Vaccines also must be stabilized to help maintain the effectiveness of the vaccine in case it's exposed to eat light or moisture, or if it experiences changes in acidity. Vaccine makers use stabilizers such as sucrose, sorbitol, gelatine, and monosodium glutamate or MSG. All of these are food ingredients found in almost every kitchen. Sucrose and sorbitol are sugars. Gelatine is derived from collagen and used in jello and

gummy bears. Monosodium glutamate adds flavor to many seasonings and dishes, and the amount of stabilizer found in flu vaccines is very small. The average person consumes much more of these ingredients per day through normal food consumption. For example, the amount of sugar and gelatine in a vaccine dose is far less than that found in a single gummy bear, and for those with gelatine allergies or who otherwise don't eat gelatine, a flu vaccine without it is easy to find,

And then there are sometimes preservatives. Vaccines can get contaminated and to prevent that. Thimerosol is sometimes added to prevent bacterial or fungal contamination from using the same vial to deliver multiple doses. The discredit study that we mentioned earlier led many people to believe that thimerisol and vaccines can cause autism, but multiple studies that followed could not establish

an association between thimerosol containing vaccines and autism. Thimerosol does contain an organic derivative of mercury called ethyl mercury, which is one of two types of the element to which people may be exposed. The body actually eliminates it more easily than the second type, called methyl mercury, which is

the type found in contaminated fish. It is true that high exposures to mercury can affect central nervous system, but the amount of elemental mercury found in a vaccine dose is twenty five micrograms, which equates to the amount and a three ounce can of tuna fish. That said, because thimerosol is only found in multi dose vials, it can easily be avoided by receiving a thimerosol free single dose flu vaccine. Of flu vaccines may also contain added ingredients.

One vaccine called flu AD and flu AD quadrivalent is approved to prevent seasonal influenza in adults age sixty five and older. It contains an extra ingredient or adjuvant to boost the immune response. The adjuvant in this vaccine is m F fifty nine, which is an oil and water emulsion of squaling. Oil Squaling is found naturally in plants, animals, and the human body. The squaling in the flu vaccine,

which is highly purified, is obtained from shark liver. Oil squaling from shark livers is also present in some cosmetics, over the counter medicines, and dietary health supplements. Each dose of vaccine contains about the amount of squaling found in four teaspoons of olive oil. No severe reactions associated with squaling in vaccines have been observed. Finally, antibiotics are often used in vaccine production to prevent bacterial contamination during manufacturing.

In some cases, very small amount may be in the finished vaccines. These antibiotics are not the ones commonly associated with severe allergic reactions, like penicillin, setalosporins, and sulfa drugs. The trace amounts of antibiotics that vaccines do contain have not been clearly associated with severe allergic reactions for those who have experienced an allergic reaction to one of these antibiotics, though flu vaccines are available that do not contain them.

So different formulations of the flu vaccine can contain a variety of ingredients, but most are in extremely small quantities. They are unlikely to produce negative effects when administered as a single dose once a year. Unless a person has a history of a severe allergic reaction to an ingredient, most flu vaccines can be safely administered. Centuries ago, the so called father of toxicology, Paracelsus, said, what is there that is not poison? All things are poison, and nothing

is without poison. And it's true water is healthy for us in appropriate amounts, but too little or too much of it could potentially lead to death. It's the dose, as paras Eelsis says, that determines whether or not something is dangerous. All of these centuries later, consider that sage advice when you think about taking the flu vaccine. Today's episode was produced by Tyler Clang and it was written by Terry Levine, a professor of pharmacy and a pie Kim,

a clinical assistant professor, both at Washington State University. The article that this episode was based on was republished on how stuffworks dot com from The Conversation dot com under a Creative Commons license. Brain Stuff is production of I Heart Radio. For more podcasts in My Heart Radio, visit the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.