What Ingredients are in Vaccines?

Posted on 5 August 2015
By Dr. Jill Tack
Posted in dangerous vaccine ingredients, National Immunization Month, preservatives in vaccines, What Ingredients Are in Vaccines
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Did you know that August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)? We've discussed our stance on vaccines before (you can read that post here). But today we're raising awareness about some of the preservatives that are used in vaccines and their potentially harmful side effects. As a pet owner, it's your right to not only choose whether or not to vaccinate your animals, but also to know what exactly goes into vaccines.

Preservatives Used in Some Vaccines

Aluminum

Aluminum Phosphate is a carcinogenic neurotoxin, that OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has deemed a hazardous substance. Some of the side effects of aluminum include:

Irritation to the skin and eyes
Irritation to the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing
Repeated exposure may damage the lungs, kidneys, and liver

Amphotericin B

Amphotericin B is fungistatic or fungicidal depending on the concentration obtained in body fluids and the susceptibility of the fungus. Amphotericin B for Injection USP is specifically intended to treat potentially life-threatening fungal infections. Its side effects are:

Fever
Weight Loss
Anorexia
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pain at injection site
Muscle and Joint Pain
Decreased renal function
Wheezing
Cardiac arrest, shock, failure
Rash
Acute liver failure, hepatitis, jaundice
Hearing Loss
Visual impairment
Leukocytosis, leukopenia

Formalin

Formalin is used to describe a saturated solution of formaldehyde dissolved in water, typically with another agent, most commonly methanol, and then added to stabilize the solution. It is typically 37 percent formaldehyde by weight (40 percent by volume) and 6 to 13 percent methanol by volume in water. The formaldehyde component provides the disinfectant effects of formalin. Some of its side effects are:

Serious allergic reaction including rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, and trouble breathing
Irritation or redness of the skin may occur
Skin lightening or hardening may occur
When ingested, clinical signs include rapid breathing, yellowish discoloration of the skin, blood in urine, and kidney failure

Gentamicin

Gentamicin is an antibiotic used in eye and eardrops. It is also used as a preservative in the Lepto vaccine. Some of its side effects include:

Renal Failure
Ringing in ears, loss of hearing
Dizziness
Lethargy
Confusion
Depression
Muscle Weakness
Respiratory arrest
Dermatologic effects include rash, itching, urticaria, and alopecia
Gastrointestinal effects include vomiting, weight loss, nausea, and stomatitis

Neomycin

Neomycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body. You should not take neomycin if you have ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, a blockage in your intestines, or other inflammatory bowel disease. Its side effects are:

Allergic reactions such as hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing
Hearing problems, ringing in ears, or a feeling of fullness in the ears
Spinning sensation, nausea, feeling like passing out
Loss of balance or coordination, trouble walking
Muscle twitching, seizure (convulsions)
Urinating less than usual or not at all
Drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite
Swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath
Weak or shallow breathing
Severe stomach cramps, diarrhea that is watery or bloody
Mild nausea, vomiting, or mild diarrhea
Interferes with the uptake of vitamin B6 absorption

Penicillin

Penicillin V is an antibiotic in the penicillin group of drugs. It fights bacteria in your body. Its discovery in 1946 permanently changed medicine and set the stage for man's ability to overcome what had previously been life-threatening infections. Penicillin is effective in fighting infections in many places in the body including the urinary tract, lungs, ears, throat, skin, and genital tract. Side effects of Penicillin include:

Digestive tract upset (the most common side effect)
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Yeast infections of the mouth, anus, or vagina
Anemia and blood disorders (less common, but possibly more serious side effects)
Interaction with aspirin and certain other arthritis medicines
Breathing difficulty, wheezing, sneezing, hives, itching, and skin rash due to allergic reactions

Polymyxin B

Polymyxin B sulfate/trimethoprim solution is an antibiotic combination. It works by killing the bacteria. It is used for treating eye infections caused by certain bacteria. Side effects include:

Renal damage
Ataxia
Numbness of the extremities
Blurred vision
Weakness
Drowsiness
Fever
Pain at injection site
Allergic reactions like hives, swelling, and difficulty breathing

Streptomycin

Streptomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic drug, the first of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides to be discovered, and it was the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis. It is also used as a pesticide and to combat the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae. The side effects of Streptomycin are:

Black, tarry stools
Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles," or tingling feelings
Chest pain
Chills
Clumsiness
Cough
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
Fever
Large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
Nausea
Sensation of spinning
Sore throat
Sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
Swollen glands
Unusual bleeding or bruising
Unusual tiredness or weakness
Vomiting
Back, leg, or stomach pains
Bleeding gums
Bloody, dark, or cloudy urine
Change in vision
Deafness
Difficulty with breathing
Difficulty with swallowing
Dry mouth
Fast heartbeat
General body swelling
Headache
Hives
Itching
Loss of appetite
Muscle weakness
Nosebleeds
Pale skin
Pinpoint red spots on the skin
Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
Skin rash
Thirst
Tightness in the chest
Yellowing of the eyes or skin
Change in the frequency of urination or amount of urine
Drowsiness
Increased thirst
Swelling of the feet or lower legs

Thimerosal (Mercury)

Thimerosal is a preservative that has been used in some vaccines since the 1930s, when the Eli Lilly Company first introduced it. It is 49.6 percent mercury by weight and is metabolized or degraded into ethylmercury and thiosalicylate. It has been removed from most pediatric vaccines. It has an affinity for the brain, gut, liver, bone marrow, and kidneys. Side effects of thimerosal include:

Even the smallest amounts can cause nerve damage
Symptoms of mercury toxicity (similar to those of autism)
Chronic exposure leads to decreased weight gain, decreased offspring survival, changes sperm production, severe mental retardation, motor coordination impairment, nervous system effects, liver effects, lung effects, kidney effects, and numbness in extremities