Vaccine Ingredients: A Comprehensive Guide

This article, written by Megan Pond, was originally published on the VaxTruth website in 2011, and was one of the most frequently read and shared articles in the history of VaxTruth. I have recently received multiple requests for this information to be made available again. I hope you find it helpful. - Marcella

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The following four photos present the information contained in the CDC’s Vaccine Excipient Summary Table.

What does the above document mean?

To find out the answer to that question, let’s dissect just a few of the ingredients on the list.

Aluminum:

Aluminum is present in many things around us.  It’s in food, air, water, and soil and is said to be harmless when swallowed because it doesn’t absorb into the body when consumed.  Aluminum is put into vaccines as an adjuvant to help them “work better” or to “enhance” them.  So, what is the concern about injecting aluminum into the blood stream?

According to the FDA:

“Aluminum may reach toxic levels with prolonged parenteral administration [this means injected into the body] if kidney function is impaired . . . Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature neonates [babies], who received parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day, accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity [for a tiny newborn, this toxic dose would be 10 to 20 micrograms, and for an adult it would be about 350 micrograms]. Tissue loading may occur at even lower rates of administration.” [Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Document NDA 19-626/S-019, Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for Dextrose Injections.]

And also:

 “Aluminum content in parenteral drug products could result in a toxic accumulation of aluminum in individuals receiving TPN therapy. Research indicates that neonates [newborns] and patient populations with impaired kidney function may be at high risk of exposure to unsafe amounts of aluminum. Studies show that aluminum may accumulate in the bone, urine, and plasma of infants receiving TPN. Many drug products used in parenteral therapy [injections] may contain levels of aluminum sufficiently high to cause clinical manifestations [symptoms] . . . parenteral aluminum bypasses the protective mechanism of the GI tract and aluminum circulates and is deposited in human tissues. Aluminum toxicity is difficult to identify in infants because few reliable techniques are available to evaluate bone metabolism in . . . infants . . . Although aluminum toxicity is not commonly detected clinically, it can be serious in selected patient populations, such as neonates [newborns], and may be more common than is recognized.” [Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Document 02N-0496, Aluminum in Large and Small Volume Parenterals Used in Total Parenteral Nutrition.]

So basically, from those documents we learn that if a premature baby receives more than 10 mcg of aluminum in an IV, it can accumulate in their bones and brain, and can be toxic.

The FDA maximum requirements for aluminum received in an IV is 25 mcg per day. The suggested aluminum per kg of weight to give to a person is up to 5mcg. (so a 5 pounds baby should get no more than 11mcg of aluminum.)  Anything that has more than 25 mcg of aluminum is *supposed* to have a label that says:

WARNING: This product contains aluminum that may be toxic. Aluminum may reach toxic levels with prolonged parenteral administration if kidney function is impaired. Premature neonates are particularly at risk because their kidneys are immature, and they require large amounts of calcium and phosphate solutions, which contain aluminum.

Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature neonates, who receive parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 [micro]g/kg/day accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at even lower rates of administration. (source)  

— Vaccines, for some reason, are not required to have this label and also are not required to follow the maximum dosage of 25 mcg.

So doing some math — the following are examples of weight with their corresponding maximum levels of aluminum, per the FDA:

8 pound, healthy baby: 18.16 mcg of aluminum

15 pound, healthy baby:  34.05 mcg of aluminum

30 pound, healthy toddler:  68.1 mcg of aluminum

50 pound, healthy child: 113 mcg of aluminum

150 pound adult: 340.5 mcg of aluminum

350 pound adult: 794.5 mcg of aluminum

So how much aluminum is in the vaccines that are routinely given to children?

• Hib (PedVaxHib brand only) - 225 mcg per shot

• Hepatitis B – 250 mcg

• DTaP – depending on the manufacturer, ranges from 170 to 625 mcg

• Pneumococcus – 125 mcg

• Hepatitis A – 250 mcg

• HPV – 225 mcg

• Pentacel (DTaP, HIB and Polio combo vaccine) – 330 mcg

• Pediarix (DTaP, Hep B and Polio combo vaccine) – 850 mcg

At birth, most children are given the hepatitis B vaccination.  The amount of aluminum in the Hepatitis B vaccine alone is almost 14 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF ALUMINUM THAT IS FDA-APPROVED.

At well-child check-ups, it’s common for 2 month, 4 month, 6 month etc., appointments to include up to 8 vaccinations that add up to more than 1,000 mcg of aluminum.  Look at the chart above and notice that that amount isn’t even safe for a 350-pound adult.  And many children get up to 8 vaccinations a visit several times a year!

According to the FDA and the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), what happens if a child receives more than the maximum required dose of aluminum?

• Aluminum builds up in the bones and brain and can be toxic.

• Aluminum can cause neurological harm.

• Aluminum overdose can be fatal in patients with weak kidneys or kidney disorders or in premature babies. (How many children are tested to see if their kidneys are functioning properly before they are vaccinated?  Could this also be why the Hepatitis B shot, given to infants at birth, has been linked to SIDS? Neonatal Deaths After Hep B vaccination.)

[source]

Amino Acids and Proteins (Albumin is also a type of protein):

What are amino acids?  Put simply, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in our bodies and they make up over 3/4 of the human body. There are 20 amino acids found naturally in the body and 8 that are considered “essential” for humans because our bodies cannot create them naturally, and therefore must be taken into our bodies by diet.  (This becomes a *great* selling point for certain diets or food products).

So, injecting amino acids into the body by way of vaccination is good, yes? Wrong.

Vaccines contain antigens — “A toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.”  Antigens are made from foreign proteins.  These foreign proteins are produced from animals (like cows, monkeys and chickens) and also humans (human cells from aborted fetuses.)

Foreign proteins (in order to be beneficial to the body) need to first be digested in the GI tract.  Protein is broken down into amino acids during the digestion process.

“When we eat protein, it is broken down into its constituent amino acids…if a foreign animal protein makes it into our bloodstream without having being broken down this can set up an autoimmune-type response…By injecting things never meant to be in the body we are not only bypassing body defenses but wrongly activating other defenses.”  — Dr. Robyn Cosford

So, what’s the outcome if you inject amino acids and/or foreign animal and human protein into the body instead of first digesting the proteins to make amino acids naturally?

• Auto-immune disorders like Addison’s disease, celiac disease – sprue (gluten-sensitive enteropathy), dermatomyositis, Graves disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, pernicious anemia, reactive arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes etc.

• Food allergies or food sensitivities associated with eggs, gluten, peanuts, milk, etc. 

Formaldehyde (or Formalin):

I personally became aware of what formaldehyde is most commonly used for by our local mortician several years ago.  After my son died, we met with the funeral directors to begin planning our son’s funeral.  During our grief-ridden conversations, we came to the conclusion that we needed to wait a week to have the funeral.  My father-in-law had graciously offered to make his casket from scratch, and that takes time (the project ended up including all of my brothers-in-laws and sisters-in-law, my dad, my brother, my mom, and my mother-in-law).  Knowing the time constraints from death to burial, (or at least what I thought I knew) I thought this might be an issue.  The funeral director (also the head mortician) assured us it would not be a problem because the formalin used in the embalming process would preserve his precious little body so that we wouldn’t need to worry about the concern of waiting a week.  “What’s Formalin?” I asked? “Formaldehyde,” he answered.  When I learned that Formaldehyde was an ingredient in vaccines, it made me a little sick to my stomach.

Formalin is an aqueous, or watery, form of Formaldehyde.

• Formaldehyde is toxic and is known to cause cancer.  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies formaldehyde as a human carcinogen.

• In 2011, the National Toxicology Program, an interagency program of the Department of Health and Human Services, named formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen in its 12^th Report on Carcinogens.

According to the National Research Council:

Fewer than 20% but perhaps more than 10% of the general population may be susceptible to formaldehyde allergies and may react acutely at any exposure level.

Formaldehyde is oxidized to formic acid which leads to acidosis and nerve damage. Acidosis can be described as a condition in which the acidity of the body tissues and fluids is abnormally high. The liver and the kidneys may also be damaged.

Other known side effects from exposure to formaldehyde:

• Alters tissue proteins

• anemia

• antibodies formation

• apathy

• blood in urine

• body aches

• cardiac impairment

• palpitations and arrhythmias

• central nervous system depression

• changes in higher cognitive functions

• chest pains and tightness

• colds

• coma

• constipation

• convulsions

• death

• destruction of red blood cells

• depression

• diarrhea

• difficulty concentrating

• disorientation

• dizziness

• ear aches

• eczema

• emotional upsets

• fatigue

• fetal asphyxiation [SIDS, perhaps?]

• flu-like or cold like illness

• UTI

• gastritis

• gastrointestinal inflammation

• headaches

• hyperactivity

• hypomenstrual syndrome

• immune system sensitizer

• impaired (short) attention span

• inability to recall words and names

• inconsistent IQ profiles

• asthma

• irritability

• jaundice

• retarded speech pattern

• schizophrenic-type symptoms

• sensitivity to sound

[Source] Keep in mind that “chronic exposure” –from the source — means “exposed several times”.

Benzethonium Chloride

Benzethonium Chloride (referred to as “BC”) is an anti-microbial agent used as a preservative in some vaccines.  There has been no testing done on humans to find out information regarding the injection of BC into the blood stream.  I have been searching for over a year with no luck in finding any such information.  What has been documented about BC under the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) under section 11 is that it is toxic when inhaled or ingested and is also hazardous to human skin.  Based on animal testing, it may cause mutations in genetic information and also be carcinogenic (cause cancer).

The known side effects of ingesting BC are (according to its SDS):

• Seizures

• Coma

• Respiratory depression

• Central Nervous System Depression

• Convulsions

• Coma

• Urinary system reaction

Raise your hand if you agree BC should be tested more thoroughly.  After all, we are injecting our children with this.

Glutaraldehyde

Glutaraldehyde is an organic compound that is used to disinfect medical and dental equipment.  In vaccines it is used as a chemical preservative.  There have been several studies done on Glutaraldehyde and it has been found that exposure to it can cause:

• Asthma

• Allergic reactions (up to 10% of up people can be allergic to Glutaraldehyde.)

• Induced respiratory issues

• diarrhea

Sources: “Glutaraldehyde-induced and formaldehyde-induced allergic contact dermatitis,” “Glutaraldehyde-induced asthma,” Genetic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies of glutaraldehyde–a review, Divergent immunological responses following glutaraldehyde exposure.

MRC-5, DNA, MRC-5 Cellular Protein, Human Serum Albumin (4 different ingredients)

All of these derive from either human tissue or human blood.

MRC-5, MRC-5 Cellular Protein 

To explain MRC-5, let’s look at a brief history before MRC-5 came about.  In 1964, during an outbreak of Rubella, some doctors urged women who had been exposed to the Rubella virus to abort their pregnancy.  (Why?  Rubella is an extremely mild virus. Most people don’t show any symptoms, especially children, some may get a rash all over their body.  Rubella becomes dangerous when a pregnant woman is exposed to the virus because it has the potential to cause severe abnormalities in the child.) From one of these aborted children that had been exposed to Rubella Virus, doctors developed a virus strain that became known as RA/27/3 — Rubella; Abortus; 27th aborted fetus; 3rd tissue explant.  In other words, it took 26 aborted infants to get the right strain.  The virus was then cultivated on the lung tissue of another aborted child, and this child became known as WI-38 — Winster Institute 38).  WI -38 was an infant girl at 3 months gestation.  What makes this seem somewhat ridiculous is that the Japanese, years before the first aborted infant was used to extract the Rubella virus, proved that the virus can be taken from a *living* child simply by swabbing their throat.

In the 1970’s, a second human cell line was created from an infant boy at 14 weeks gestation and became known as MRC-5.

WI-38 and MRC-5 have become the most used cell lines to make vaccinations.  Labs currently use these 2 cell lines, as well as new sources (a.k.a new aborted infants) to create new vaccines.

The use of tissue from aborted infants has caused heated debate because it is ethically questionable.  Pro-life groups, which include many churches and parents whose morals condemn profiting from aborted infants, continue to fight the pharmaceutical companies to produce vaccines that do not contain this tissue.  And the thing is, it’s possible. Vaccines can be made from other sources.

DNA

DNA is harvested from aborted infants.  It is used as adjuvant in vaccines.  In vaccines, 100,000,000 bits and strands of human dna are allowed per dose.  Again, we encounter the issue of the ethical dilemma for this issue.

Human Serum Albumin

Human Serum Albumin is a stabilizing protein made from human blood donated by screened donors.  We already discussed above why injecting a protein directly into the body is dangerous.

With that aside, let’s look at the points we reach regarding these 4 different ingredients:

We have human DNA, human cell lines from aborted infants, and protein from human blood in 23 of our vaccines.  When we need a blood transfusion, or a blood donation of some kind, what is absolutely required?  A match, correct?  For example, if a person with type O blood receives type A+ blood, the outcome is fatal.  There are rules of science that cannot be crossed regarding DNA and blood.  It is imperative to be tested when receiving any type of tissue or blood to ensure that a fatal blood or tissue type isn’t put into your body.  So may I ask: How many of you or your children were given a blood test before receiving vaccinations?  We all know the answer to that.  It doesn’t happen. The outcome to mixing and NOT matching human blood and tissue with other humans can be virtually disastrous.  Remember that every one of those 4 ingredients have human DNA in them.  Even after the protein is extracted from human blood, DNA remains.

There was a recent study done by Dr. Helen Ratajczak called “Theoretical aspects of autism: Causes–A review.” In this study, Dr. Ratajczak studied the problems associated with injecting human tissue into another person.  Please see the CBS report on this study. (Note: The link is no longer available)

In this CBS report it says:

Ratajczak also looks at a factor that hasn’t been widely discussed: human DNA contained in vaccines. That’s right, human DNA. Ratajczak reports that about the same time vaccine makers took most thimerosal out of most vaccines (with the exception of flu shots which still widely contain thimerosal), they began making some vaccines using human tissue. Ratajczak says human tissue is currently used in 23 vaccines. She discusses the increase in autism incidences corresponding with the introduction of human DNA to MMR vaccine, and suggests the two could be linked. Ratajczak also says an additional increased spike in autism occurred in 1995 when chicken pox vaccine was grown in human fetal tissue.

Why could human DNA potentially cause brain damage? The way Ratajczak explained it to me: “Because it’s human DNA and recipients are humans, there’s homologous recombination. That DNA is incorporated into the host DNA. Now it’s changed, altered self and body kills it. Where is this most expressed? The neurons of the brain. Now you have body killing the brain cells and it’s an ongoing inflammation. It doesn’t stop, it continues through the life of that individual.”

Thimerosal

Thimerosal is a compound made up of approximately 50% mercury.  Mercury is the second most poisonous element known to man (next to uranium and its derivatives.) When someone says, “MERCURY!” we immediately think of the news stories about the child at school who broke a thermometer in biology class and the HAZ-MAT team was called in and all the students were in peril.  Did you know they make that big of a deal (meaning bringing in the HAZ-MAT crew) for less mercury than what is contained in 1 vaccine?  Thimerosal is used as a preservative in vaccines to help prevent bacteria growth in multi-use vaccines.  It is also used in the creation process of a vaccine, and then through a purification process it is “removed” and only “trace” amounts are left.  First, I urge you to read this article: Is There Thimerosal in the Flu Vaccine?

Next, let’s discuss what “trace amounts” means.  (If you notice in the document above next to many of the entries for “Thimerosal,” there is an asterisk next to it.  The asterisk notates that *Where “thimerosal” is marked with an asterisk (*) it indicates that the product should be considered equivalent to thimerosal-free products.”)

Before we move on, a little story — I was at the grocery store a little while ago looking at a large bag of “Stevia” — the new fad in no-calorie sweeteners.  I was reading the back of the bag, and I came to a little spot at the bottom that said, “Each serving contains less than 2 calories which the FDA considers dietetically zero.”  What?! That doesn’t even make sense! If something is said to be “calorie-free”, it should be calorie-free, right?? If something has calories in it, it has calories in it.  You cannot place some carrots on the counter and tell me there are no carrots on the counter.  A serving size of Stevia is 1tsp, so let’s assume that 1 tsp contains 1.9 calories.  Remember, we have to assume because we DON’T ACTUALLY KNOW.  It’s the FDA that says the calories in Stevia don’t exist, but just for the mere fact that there is this disclaimer on the bag lets us know that there are, in fact, carrots on the counter… er, I mean calories in the bag.  But going back, we’re going to say there are 1.9 calories per serving.  Using Stevia is “cup for cup.” In other words, you use the same amount of Stevia as you would regular sugar.  So, I’m going to make some fantabulous “low-calorie” chocolate chip cookies with my “no-calorie” Stevia.  I’m on a strict diet, so all I need to add up to find out how many calories are in my batch of cookies are all of my ingredients EXCEPT sugar, right?  But wait… I’m adding 2 cups of Stevia into my batch of cookies.  There are 48 teaspoons in a cup, which means I’m adding 96 teaspoons of Stevia — which also would equate to 182.4 EXTRA calories.  There’s no argument that it has greatly reduced the number of calories in my batch of cookies versus using conventional sugar, but the fact remains: NO-CALORIE IS NOT NO-CALORIE.

So, the fact that those vaccines containing thimerosal with an asterisk beside it virtually says the same thing and is extremely misleading.  They should be “considered equivalent to thimerosal-free products” gives the illusion that there is no thimerosal in vaccines, or at least not enough to have to worry about.  But remember, if I eat 8 batches of my cookies that are supposed to be low calorie because of my “calorie-free” Stevia, I’m actually consuming 1,459.2 calories that the FDA says aren’t really there.  This can be applied to vaccines as well.  Many “well-child” check-ups include up to 8 vaccines in one sitting.

So how much does “trace” mean?  According to the CDC, it says less than or equal to 0.3mcg per dose.  Sailhome.org does a nice job of putting this into perspective:

• 2 ppb mercury is the mandated limit in drinking water 

• 200 ppb mercury in liquid waste renders it a toxic hazard 

• 25,000 ppb is found in infant flu shots 

• 50,000 ppb is found in regular flu shots — recommended for children, pregnant women, the elderly…

Also, the math on how many ppb in a “thimerosal free” vaccine:

0.3 mcg / 0.5mL =
0.3 mcg / .0005L =
…3,000 mcg / 5L =
600 mcg / L
1 mg/KG = 1 PPM (formal definition of PPM)
1 L = 1 KG (density of water or saline solution)
1 mcg/L = 1 PPB (because 1 KG and 1 L of water are equivalent)
THEREFORE:
600 mcg / L =
600 ppb Thimerosal in the “thimerosal-free” vaccine

Flu vaccine has “only” 25 mcg Thimerosal. The shot is 0.5mL. Let’s do some math:
25 mcg / 0.5mL =
25 mcg / .0005L =
250,000 mcg / 5L =
50,000 mcg / L
1 mcg / L = 1 ppb, therefore
The shot has 50,000 ppb of Thimerosal

Remember that 2 ppb mercury is the mandated limit in drinking water and normally 200 ppb would label something a toxic hazard.

After we find all of this information out, we have to ask ourselves: Why is mercury dangerous?? 

A Research Video from the University of Calgary: WATCH HERE

***Notice that mercury doesn’t only stunt neurological growth, it actually reverses it, or destroys it.

Yeast Extract/MSG

Yeast extract is a common name used for various forms of processed yeast.  Many people have yeast allergies, and vaccines can induce an anaphylactic response after being vaccinated due to the yeast.

Aside from that, ALL yeast extract contains MSG. Many people have either an allergy or a sensitivity to MSG (I am one of them).  MSG has been known to cause:

• Migraine headaches

• Sleeping disorders

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome

• Asthma

• Diabetes

• Alzheimer’s disease

• Lou Gehrig’s disease

• Attention Deficit Disorder

• Seizure

• Stroke

• Anaphylactic reaction

 Egg Protein

We already discussed under Amino Acids why injecting protein directly into the body is harmful.  Aside from that, individuals allergic to eggs can have a serious reaction to vaccines that contain egg protein.  What’s interesting is that many parents don’t know that vaccines contain egg products, and doctors virtually never reveal that information (if they are actually aware themselves), even if they know that vaccines contain egg products.  When a child with an egg allergy has a reaction to a vaccine, doctors often deny the fact that it’s even a *possibility* that the vaccine caused the reaction.

Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide (CTMB)

Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide is a cationic surfactant.  It’s used for many things, including acting as a buffer solution for extracting DNA.  According to its Safety Data Sheet we find out several things:

• CTMB is labeled as “Hazardous”

• It is a skin irritant

• It is a serious eye irritant

• It is hazardous if inhaled

• It is harmful if swallowed

• It may cause respiratory irritation

• It is dangerous to the environment

• It is very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects

• It is flammable

In almost all cases of any kind of contact with CTMB, it advises to contact a medical professional and it advises that CTMB should never touch any part of the human body.  It also gives precautionary information and equipment to use/wear during handling CTMB. Under section 8 Exposure Controls/personal protection, it advises to:

• Keep away from foodstuffs, beverages and feed.

• Immediately remove all soiled and contaminated clothing.

• Wash hands before breaks and at the end of work.

• Avoid contact with the eyes and skin.

This sounds like some pretty serious stuff, and millions of children and adults are getting this injected into their bodies.

In the “general information” for CTMB, it explains that “Symptoms of poisoning may even occur after several hours” and the patient should be observed for up to 48 hours after coming into contact with it.  (How many children have a reaction to a vaccine that isn’t immediate or even on the first day?  Hundreds. And yet if the reaction isn’t immediate, medical professional dismiss the possibility of a vaccine reaction even faster.)

2-Phenoxyethanol

2-Phenoxyethoanol is used as an antibacterial agent in vaccines.  According to the SDS (Safety Data Sheet), we find that it is toxic if swallowed, inhaled, absorbed through the skin, it is a severe skin and eye irritant, and it may cause reproductive defects.  According to the EPA data sheets, it has shown to cause chromosomal changes and genetic mutations in tests, as well as testicular atrophy and interference with reproductivity in mice.

The known side effects of 2-Phenoxyethanol exposure are:

• Headache

• Shock

• Convulsions

• Weakness

• Kidney damage

• Cardiac failure

• Kidney failure

• Death

Most people who vaccinate their children are not made aware what ingredients are contained in vaccines — and even if they’re told, they may not fully understand what that particular ingredient is or what it means.  This list is to help those individuals better understand what they are injecting into the bodies of their loved ones. 

What prompted me to put this together was the staggering number of people that report adverse reactions to vaccines.  This is what, at first, got me interested in knowing WHY so many children experience many of the same reactions to vaccines. What I found was that many of the adverse reactions fit into many of the side effects of many ingredients contained in vaccines.  Please educate before you vaccinate! Don’t wait for something bad to happen before you begin researching vaccines.