Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vaccines - Part 3 - Ingredients


We've all heard about vaccine ingredients. However, even when handed the glossy brochure at the doctor's office, we still feel we need a translator.

This happens because pharmaceutical companies can use trade, registered, or industry names for substances, rather than common names. They can also use copyrighted names that might refer to how the ingredient was processed, rather than indicate what it is. This all combines to make us inclined to simply toss the handout, and most of us do just that.

To help simplify, and in layman's terms, here's some of the common ingredients used in vaccines.

Live or dead protein like substances: bacteria, viruses, or toxins.
Aluminum Hydroxide or Aluminum Sulfate: metal/mineral.
Animal, Human, or Bird Albumin or Serum: horse, beef, pork, human, chicken, etc., proteins, DNA, RNA, or fluids.
Polysorbate 80: humectant/attracts H2O and preservative.
Amino acids: protein building blocks, especially to prevent allergic reactions.
Formalin: formaldehyde.
Sodium chloride: salt.
Sucrose, xylitol, etc.: sugar.
Thimerosal: mercury.
Trace*: any substance, less than .05%, usually residue from manufacturing.
Other Ingredients: preservatives and/or substances related to particular type of vaccine.

Vaccine ingredients can be, and are changed frequently, as stated by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) on their web site. "...manufactors may change product contents before information is reflected here." They can also easily become contaminated by unclean ingredients, equipment, improper storage, or handling.

If you are faced with the decision of being vaccinated, check out the CDC's web site and consult with your doctor. Take a print out of the particular vaccine contents and review your and your family's medical history. If you feel apprehensive about a vaccine, ask/insist an allergy or blood test be done to alleviate fears about reactions, and that you be given a copy of your chart, noting your concern, and any test results.

*Trace - each substance can be less than the .05%, however if there are a number of them, the total % can be much higher. Trace elements are said to be "biologically inactive" at the low (allowable by law) %. However, there is no information available as to the effects of total trace amounts when combined with other vaccine ingredients, and/or other medications.

Sources: www.wikipedia.org, www.webmd.com, and www.cdc.gov.

All rights reserved. All blogs and photos on this site are copyrighted, and may not be stored, retrieved, copied, or sold in any form without express permission.

The information contained on this site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, treat, or cure. Nor is it intended to replace the advice of your primary care provider. No liability is assumed by the owner of this site, the author, or editor, related to use or misuse of any information contained herein.

1 comment: