Adjuvants: Resources & Information

Adjuvants are substances added to certain vaccines to increase the body’s immune response to that vaccine. Ingredients are added to inactivate viruses or bacteria, to preserve them, and to prevent them from losing potency over time. Vaccines containing adjuvants and ingredients are tested for safety in clinical trials before they are licensed for use in the United States.

Immunize.org

Materials for Providers

Need Help Responding to Vaccine-Hesitant Parents?

A list of science-based materials available from respected organizations.

Materials for Vaccine Recipients

Clear Answers and Smart Advice About Your Baby’s Shots

Written by Dr. Ari Brown, clear answers to parents’ questions about vaccines.

More From Immunize.org

Printable resources and links to partner organizations to help you address hesitancy related to vaccination-related anxiety.

Printable resources designed to help healthcare professionals in all aspects of immunization practice.

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Information sheets produced by CDC that explain both the benefits and risks of a vaccine to vaccine recipients.

Real-life accounts of suffering and loss.

From our affiliated site VaccineInformation.org, information about the importance of vaccines and answers to many common questions.

CDC ∙ FDA ∙ WHO

CDC

Table of excipients (ingredients) found in U.S. vaccines.

Read about ingredients that may be used in the production of vaccines.

Learn about adjuvants and how they are monitored for safety and effectiveness.

Strategies for healthcare professionals on how to discuss vaccines with parents.

FDA

Discussion about why adjuvants and other vaccine ingredients are added to vaccines.

WHO

Reports about adjuvants from WHO’s Global Vaccine Safety Advisory Committee.

Trusted Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

Why certain ingredients are used in vaccines, for parents.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Vaccine Education Center (VEC)

A 2-page Q&A PDF handout for parents answering questions about vaccine ingredients, including aluminum, mercury, gelatin, and antibiotics. A Spanish-language version is also available.

A 2-page Q&A PDF for parents describing how the small amount of aluminum in vaccines is not harmful.

An infographic (PDF) identifying and describing ingredients in the flu vaccine: antigens, adjuvants, stabilizers, preservatives, and residual byproducts.

Information about the safety of aluminum in vaccines.

Answers the question, can people with yeast allergies get vaccines?

Vaxopedia

Vaccine labels must contain all ingredients and all ingredients must be tested before approved.

Videos

August 11, 2015

Is the Aluminum in Vaccines Safe?

From the Vaccine Education Center (VEC), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Paul A. Offit discusses why aluminum is in vaccines and the safety of those small amounts.

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