Vaccines are usually always a very controversial topic of conversation. There has been virtually no serious debate about their safety for many years, however the conversation has been growing as many are starting to question the practice, and especially the sheer number of recommended vaccines for children.
In fact, when I studied medicine, the composition of vaccines was never explained to me in detail, only the vaccination schedule. It was taken for granted that they work and are safe, so I never wondered what was behind them.
During the COVID pandemic, the backlash that anyone who questioned the technology brought about an increased skepticism within me. I wondered why if the science is so strong, and safety so established would conversations be so taboo. From that moment on, I decided to start studying what vaccines contain, and I believe it is necessary for people to have this information so that they can decide for themselves what they want to do with their bodies and the health of their children.
So, here I am going to share some information that I found most useful:
Vaccine composition
1. Antigens
Antigens are the primary actors in vaccines, serving as the mimics of disease-causing agents. These can be weakened or inactivated forms of the pathogen, subunits of the pathogen, or even snippets of genetic material. By presenting antigens to the immune system, vaccines stimulate the production of antibodies and immune memory, preparing the body to recognize and combat the actual infectious agent.
2. Adjuvants
Adjuvants are substances added to vaccines to enhance the body’s immune response. Commonly used adjuvants include aluminum salts, which amplify the antigen’s effect and promote a more robust immune reaction. Understanding the role of adjuvants is crucial for optimizing vaccine efficacy while ensuring safety.
The idea of the adjuvants is to hyperactivate the immune system so the immune response and resultant “memory” against the antigen is more potent.
Types of adjuvants
Aluminum salts (aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate)
Commonly used adjuvants that enhance the immune response to antigens. Aluminum is known to have a genotoxic profile, capable of causing both DNA alterations and epigenetic effects, and this would be consistent with a potential role in breast cancer if such effects occurred in breast cells. Clinical studies showing a relationship between aluminum containing cosmetics (like deodorant) and incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant. Also there is no known physiological role for aluminum within the body and hence this metal may produce adverse physiological effects. Chronic exposure of animals to aluminum is associated with behavioral, neuropathological and neurochemical changes. Among them, deficits of learning and behavioral functions are most evident. Some epidemiological studies have shown poor performance in cognitive tests and a higher abundance of neurological symptoms for workers occupationally exposed to aluminum. It’s also known that aluminum toxicity can cause oxidative stress impairing mitochondrial function. This can lead to neurodegeneration.
You might see the ingredients listed as:
- MF59: An oil-in-water emulsion used as an adjuvant in some vaccines.
- AS03: An adjuvant containing alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), squalene, and polysorbate 80.
3. Preservatives
Preservatives are crucial components that prevent bacterial or fungal contamination in vaccines. Thimerosal, a mercury-containing compound, has historically been used as a preservative, although many vaccines now use alternative preservatives to address concerns about mercury exposure. Examining the role of preservatives helps elucidate the delicate balance between vaccine safety and stability.
Thimerosal side effects and toxicity have been more studied lately, thus taken out of some vaccines. As mentioned above, aluminum is still used as an adjuvant and less studied, but also neurotoxic and the quantity used is way greater than the standardized levels allowed to avoid toxicity in babies.
Types of preservatives:
- Thimerosal (ethylmercury): Historically used as a preservative, but its use has been reduced due to concerns about mercury exposure. Many vaccines now use alternative preservatives. Mercury is neurotoxic, and can cause mitochondrial toxicity too, among other side effects.
- 2-phenoxyethanol: An alternative preservative used in some vaccines.
4. Stabilizers
Stabilizers are essential for maintaining the integrity of vaccines during production, transportation, and storage. Common stabilizers include sugars like sucrose or gelatin, which protect the vaccine’s components from degradation.
Types of stabilizers:
- Sugars: Common stabilizers include sucrose or lactose, which help protect vaccine components from degradation during storage.
- Gelatin: Used in some vaccines to stabilize the vaccine formulation.
5. Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers are substances that help disperse and stabilize the components within a vaccine. For instance, polysorbate 80 is commonly used to disperse the lipid components, ensuring a homogeneous vaccine solution.
Types of emulsifiers:
- Polysorbate 80: (E433) A surfactant commonly used to disperse lipid components in certain vaccines. Polysorbate 80 is a common food additive and emulsifier that is used in a variety of products, including vaccines, medications, and cosmetics. It is generally regarded as safe for consumption and use in these products when used within established limits. While Polysorbate 80 is considered safe for most people, there have been discussions and studies on its safety. There is direct evidence on the detrimental effects of food emulsifiers P20 and P80 on intestinal epithelial integrity. The underlying mechanism of epithelial barrier disruption was cell death at concentrations between 1% and 0.1%. Even at concentrations lower than 0.1%, these polysorbates induced a proinflammatory response suggesting a detrimental effect on gastrointestinal health.
- Sorbitan trioleate: Another emulsifying agent used in vaccine formulations.
6. Carrier Proteins
Some vaccines use carrier proteins to enhance the immune response, particularly in conjugate vaccines. These proteins carry attached antigens and stimulate a more robust immune reaction, especially in young children with developing immune systems.
7. Genetic Material
The vaccines made using human fetal cells include chickenpox, rubella, hepatitis A, one version of the rabies vaccine, and one version of the COVID-19 vaccine (adenovirus-based version). Viruses reproduce in cells, so to grow viruses for a vaccine, one of the necessary “tools” is a type of cell in which the virus will grow. Viruses will not grow in just any cell type, so one of the first things a scientist needs to do is to figure out what cells the virus will infect in the lab.
Because viruses infect people, human cells are a good place to start checking. The most important benefit offered by using fetal cells was that they were isolated from the sterile environment of the womb. This meant the cells would not be infected with other viruses, and the vaccine produced in these cells would not inadvertently introduce any other viruses.
Fibroblast cells are the cells needed to hold skin and other connective tissue together. The fetal fibroblast cells used to grow vaccine viruses were first obtained from elective termination of two pregnancies in the early 1960s. These same fetal cells obtained from the early 1960s have continued to grow in the laboratory and are used to make vaccines today.
Also recent advancements in vaccine technology include the use of genetic material, such as messenger RNA (mRNA) or DNA. mRNA vaccines, like those for COVID-19, instruct cells to produce a harmless piece of the virus, triggering an immune response.
8. Manufacturing Residues
Vaccine production involves various steps, and traces of substances used in the manufacturing process may be present in the final product. Investigating manufacturing residues provides a comprehensive understanding of the meticulous quality control measures implemented to ensure the safety of vaccines.
Types of Residues:
- Residual proteins or genetic material from the manufacturing process.
- Cell culture-derived components, if vaccines are produced using cell cultures.
- Trace amounts of substances used in the purification and inactivation steps during manufacturing.
Conclusion
So as you can see, there are a lot of components inside the vaccines, many of which are not discussed. Part of informed consent is understanding what a medicine/procedure entails and contains to make an informed choice. From there, it should be your choice to decide if you want to participate in vaccination protocols or not.
A few important notes: There is a difference between eating contaminated foods and injecting these contaminants in your body. The absorption is far greater when something is injected. There are no real studies on how much is absorbed in general. There are studies that have been published which show that after a vaccine there is some sort of heavy metal detoxing via urine and stool. The problem is that no one has yet looked at how much is still inside our fat and cells, and there are no studies that can resolve this enigma yet, nor are there enough studies on long term health effects from vaccination ingredients.
REFERENCES
Aluminum, antiperspirants and breast cancer, J Inorg Biochem, P.D Darbre. J Inorg Biochem 2005 Sep;99(9):1912-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2005.06.001
Aluminum neurotoxicity: neurobehavioural and oxidative aspects, Vijay Kumar et al Arch Toxicol. 2009 Nov;83(11):965-78. doi: 10.1007/s00204-009-0455-6. Epub 2009 Jul 1
Mechanisms of gut epithelial barrier impairment caused by food emulsifiers polysorbate 20 and polysorbate 80, Ismail Ogulur et al. Allergy 2023 Sep;78(9):2441-2455. doi: 10.1111/all.15825. Epub 2023 Aug 2