Vaccine Additives and Residuals

Abstract

Vaccines contain active ingredients (antigens; mRNA) and inactive ingredients (stabilizers, antimicrobials, inactivating agents, antibiotics, residues of production). Formaldehyde is a “natural substance” in human metabolism. With this “natural presence” in mind, the amount of formaldehyde contained in vaccines is not relevant. However, high formaldehyde concentrations in gaseous form may act as a carcinogen. Thiomersal was withdrawn from inactivated pediatric vaccines from the year 2000. Available evidence today indicates that it does not cause autism. It has never been an ingredient in life vaccines. Penicillin and streptomycin are not used or added during vaccine production, allergies to neomycin are extremely rare. Patients with severe hen egg protein allergy (1) can safely be vaccinated with MMR- or TBE-vaccines; (2) should receive egg-protein-free influenza vaccine based on cell culture technology; (3) Yellow fever vaccine is contraindicated, but if necessary, it can be given in graded doses by an allergist.