21 Nov What Are The Active Ingredients Inside A Flu Shot?
We hear about flu shots all the time, but have you ever wondered what the active ingredients inside of a flu shot are?
Flu shots are primarily made up of influenza vaccines. The vaccine itself is made up of genetic material from the virus against which it inoculates. This genetic material will either consist of a dead and inactive form of the virus, or a live, weakened form of the virus. The latter is not a vaccine in the form of a shot, but a nasal spray.
Beyond the vaccine, there are a few different “ingredients” in a flu shot.
- Most vaccines are fabricated inside of chicken eggs, so a vaccine might contain egg protein.
- Some vaccines are manufactured inside animal cells, and these vaccines will not contain egg protein.
There are some additives in flu shots that preserve their strength and eliminate contaminants. These include:
- Thimerosal
- Aluminum salts
- Gelatin
- Formaldehyde
- Neomycin
Most of these ingredients can be found in a variety of household items, and are included, if at all, in extremely small quantities. Flu shots have been administered millions of times for decades, and are safe and effective. More information about these ingredients and why they are included in vaccines can be found here.
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In-Home Flu Shots With Concierge MD
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