Active And Inactive Ingredients In Vaccines

Active And Inactive Ingredients In Vaccines

A vaccine against a particular virus will contain a small amount of the pathogen or a part of it. When we receive the vaccine, the viral interloper triggers our immune system to launch a series of events that leave us protected against the pathogen in the future.

The WHO estimate that vaccinations prevent between 2 and 3 million deaths every year across the globe. Severe side effects are very rare, making vaccines one of the safest healthcare interventions in the history of modern medicine.

The ingredients in common vaccines reveals a long list of other components, the roles of which might not seem so clear. What is the purpose of gelatin, thimerosal, and Polysorbate 80? And why do some vaccines contain aluminum? Let us look at the active and inactive ingredients that make their way into vaccines and reveal what their role is in protecting us from infectious diseases.

Do vaccines contain human cell material?

Some vaccines are made from viruses or pathogenic molecules that are expanded in human, animal, or yeast cells.

There are two human cell lines that pharmaceutical companies use. These are called WI-38 and MRC-5. Both of these cell lines were established from cells taken from the lungs of aborted fetuses.

But for some people, the fact that cells from aborted fetuses are used in this way presents a moral problem.

Other viruses are grown in animal cells before being incorporated into vaccines. Animal cells used for this purpose include kidney cells from African green monkeys (Vero cells) and chick embryo cells.

Some recombinant vaccines may contain small trace amounts of yeast proteins or yeast DNA.

Our immune system and active ingredients

The active ingredient in a vaccine is usually made from the viral or bacterial pathogen itself. There are two different approaches to this, with the pathogen being either alive or inactivated.

Vaccines that incorporate living bacteria or viruses are called live attenuated vaccines. The pathogen is weakened to prevent it from causing the disease, but it is still able to elicit a strong immune response. Live attenuated vaccines work very well, but they are not suitable for everyone. If a person is immunocompromised, they may contract the very disease from which the vaccine should be protecting them. Many vaccines, therefore, use an inactivated version of the active ingredients, which can take the form of whole bacteria or viruses that have been killed.

However, most vaccines are actually acellular, which means that they do not contain the whole pathogenic organism. Instead, they are made from parts of the pathogen, such as proteins or sugar molecules. Our bodies recognize these molecules as foreign and mount an immune response.

Examples of acellular vaccines are:

Toxoid vaccines that contain inactivated toxins from pathogenic bacteria.

Conjugate vaccines made from a combination of pathogen-specific sugar molecules and toxoid proteins, as the sugars themselves do not cause sufficiently strong immune responses.

Recombinant vaccines made by using bacteria or yeast cells to make many copies of specific molecules from the pathogen.

Aside from the active ingredient, vaccines contain many other things. The technical term for these is excipients.

Excipients include preservatives and stabilizers, traces of things that were used to produce the vaccine, and adjuvants. Adjuvants make vaccines stronger.

Although many vaccines contain active ingredients that are strong enough to kick our immune system into gear, some need a little bit of extra help to be effective.

Adjuvants are compounds that elicit a strong immune response, improving how well a vaccine works.

Examples of adjuvants include:

Metals, Oils, Biological molecules, such as components isolated from bacteria and synthetic DNA

Aluminum, in the form of aluminum salt, features in a variety of vaccines, including several routine childhood vaccines. Scientists believe that this adjuvant increases the production of antibodies.

Aluminum is a naturally occurring metal that has many uses aside from its adjuvant properties. Cans, foil, and some window frames contain aluminum.

Aluminum salts are also used in the food industry as additives.

As an adjuvant, aluminum has a long history going back to the 1930s. Despite its widespread use, some scientists believe that the metal can cause damage to the nervous system and promote autoimmunity.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a study in 2011 in the journal Vaccine, which concluded that “episodic exposures to vaccines that contain aluminum adjuvant continue to be extremely low risk to infants and that the benefits of using vaccines containing aluminum adjuvant outweigh any theoretical concerns.”

Another example of an adjuvant is squalene, a naturally occurring oil.

The Fluad vaccine, a flu vaccine licensed for adults aged 65 years and older, contains an adjuvant called MF59, which is an oil-in-water emulsion containing squalene. The squalene used in MF59 is purified from shark liver oil.

In 2000, a research team pointed to a link between squalene and Gulf War Syndrome, prompting fears about the safety of this adjuvant.

Preservatives, Stabilizers, and Emulsifiers

The number of excipients in any particular vaccine varies and is highly dependent on both the manufacturing process and the vaccine’s intended use.

Thimerosal is a preservative primarily used in vaccines that come in multidose vials. Thimerosal kills bacteria and fungi that may contaminate a vaccine.

It is an organic compound containing about 50% mercury, prompting some people to be concerned about exposure to this heavy metal.

Gelatin is a stabilizer used in some vaccines to protect the active ingredient. It is usually sourced from pigs and highly processed. Other stabilizers include the sweetener sorbitol and the sugar molecules sucrose and lactose.

Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier used in the food industry in ice creams, gelatin desserts, barbecue sauce, and pickled products. In vaccines, it helps other components remain soluble.

Some people have voiced concerns over the safety of polysorbate 80 after research showed potential links to reproductive problems in female rats and premature ovarian failure in girls receiving the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine.

Remnants of the vaccine production process

Vaccine manufacturers need sufficient quantities of bacteria and viruses to make the required doses.

Bacteria or viruses are often grown in large numbers before undergoing purification and then attenuation or inactivation during the production process.

Although most of the materials used during this expansion phase will be present in trace amounts or not at all in the final product, they may feature on the list of ingredients.

Antibiotics are used in the production of vaccines against some viruses to prevent bacterial contamination. The most commonly used antibiotics are neomycin, streptomycin, polymyxin B, gentamicin, and kanamycin.

Acidity regulators, such as succinic acid and disodium adipate, help keep the pH at the correct level during the expansion process.

Bovine serum is a component in some growth media formulations.

Ovalbumin is a protein in the whites of chicken eggs. The viral particles used in some flu and rabies vaccines are grown on chicken eggs, making it possible that small traces of ovalbumin will appear in the final product.

Glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde are chemicals used to inactivate toxins from viruses and bacteria in some vaccines. These chemicals are toxic in large quantities.

Excipients in pharmaceuticals

While some people may be surprised to see excipients in vaccines, these compounds actually feature heavily in all medicines.

Sugars and flavoring in syrups mask the potentially unpleasant taste of the formulation, while colors help people avoid mistaking one drug for another. 

Some excipients improve how well a drug can penetrate the skin or determine where in the gastrointestinal tract its breakdown occurs.

As with vaccines, their purpose is to ensure that drugs are safe and effective.

The top 10 biggest pharma companies in the world in 2020

The top 10 biggest pharma companies in the world in 2020: In 2019, the global pharmaceutical industry continued to grow making an estimated $1.3 trillion. The US FDA approved 48 new drugs and biologics in 2019. The FDA approved an impressive number of generics with a huge 1,171 approvals, breaking its previous record of 971 in 2018.

American multinational, Amgen. With its “biology-first approach”, Amgen produces innovative medicines and delivers them to 100 countries and regions worldwide.

French multinational pharmaceutical giant, Sanofi. Sanofi provides healthcare solutions to 170 countries worldwide and has three core focuses: speciality care, vaccines and general medicines. Sanofi’s pharmaceutical segment grew by 4% on a year-on-year basis, with recently launched Eczema treatment Dupixent, which is set for further growth as Sanofi plans to extend its reach to another 89 countries.

Founded 133 years ago, Bristol-Myers Squibb is a leading global pharmaceutical company that specialises in medicinal advancements in four key areas: oncology, haematology, immunology and cardiovascular disease.

Headquartered in Osaka, Japanese multinational Takeda is the largest pharmaceutical company in Asia. Takeda focuses its efforts in four core areas: oncology, rare diseases, neuroscience, and gastroenterology.

AbbVie was created in 2013, when the company separated from Abbott. Employing 47,000 experts, AbbVie tends to drive its R&D efforts towards difficult-to-cure diseases and successfully acquired Allergan in May 2019. 

Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis has developed, manufactured and marketed breakthrough medicines for over 250 years. Now with presence in 155 countries across the world, Novartis focuses on innovative medicines as well as generics and biosimilars. Key brands Cosentyx, Entresto and Zolgensma.

American pharmaceutical company Merck was founded in 1891. With 71,000 employees worldwide, the company is well known for its contributions to diabetes and cancer care. Key growth drivers included Keytruda, Gardasi and Varivax.

With headquarters based in New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson develops and produces pharmaceuticals, medical devices and consumer health goods. Key brands Strelara, Darzalex and Imbruvica.

Pfizer takes second place in 2020. Pfizer specialises in the development of medicines and vaccines across a wide range of disciplines including immunology, oncology, cardiology and neurology. The company employees over 88,000 people and delivers its healthcare solutions to over 150 countries across the world. Pfizer has dealt with some costly patent expirations including Viagra and Lyrica. Key performers in medicine included Irbrance, Eliquis, Lyrica and Xeljanz. In 2019, Pfizer took bold steps to position the company for sustained growth with the plan to combine Upjohn and Mylan’s strengths, resources and access.

Roche has taken the top spot in 2020, surpassing Pfizer as the biggest pharmaceutical company in the world. With a workforce of over 90,000 and headquarters based in Basel Switzerland, Roche is at the forefront of oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology and neuroscience. In 2019, sales of Roche’s pharma segment rose by a healthy 16% to $53bn. Roche’s best-selling drugs included multiple sclerosis medicine Ocrevus, haemophilia medicine Hemlibra and cancer medicines Tecentriq and Perjeta. Looking to the future, Roche will continue to focus on prescription medicines.

A twice-yearly injection that lowers cholesterol levels

Inclisiran, an investigational cholesterol-lowering treatment, was added to the pipeline from the Novartis acquisition of The Medicines Company. Inclisiran will potentially be the first and only LDL-C lowering siRNA treatment.

twice-yearly injection that lowers cholesterol levels could become available on the NHS by 2021. Inclisiran can cut LDL-C levels by half in just two weeks. Inclisiran, an as-yet unlicensed cholesterol-lowering injection that uses gene silencing to reduce LDL-C levels, will be made available to patients taking part in the trial later this year. The DHSC said that if inclisiran is given to 300,000 people annually, it could prevent 55,000 heart attacks and strokes and save 30,000 lives.

The trial, a collaboration between the UK government and pharmaceutical company Novartis, will provide access to the drug to NHS patients in England before undergoing a cost-effectiveness assessment by NICE. The Department for Health and Social care announced the deal this week and said that around 40,000 patients who are at risk of heart disease, but for whom statins don’t work, will be eligible for the trial, which will be run by the University of Oxford.

Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘This partnership is fantastic news and is a huge stride forwards in helping to achieve this. This collaboration has the potential to save 30,000 lives over the next 10 years and is proof that the UK continues to be the world-leading destination for revolutionary healthcare.’

Professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Oxford Martin Landray said: ‘The trial will provide both a very reliable test of the efficacy and safety of inclisiran to support a population-health approach to the management of cholesterol, and act as an exemplar for future trials of other treatments in the UK.’

GP and professor of primary care at Imperial College London Professor Azeem Majeed commented: ‘I think this is a potentially positive development as the NHS does need to partner with industry to ensure that innovative and effective treatments are made available to patients. ‘For now though, we need further research on the new treatment and its implementation. This partnership will help provide the relevant evidence. If the drug is eventually rolled out more widely, we will need further discussion about how it is best administered and patients monitored.’

Hepatitis And Liver

Reversing Coronary Artery Disease

If you can make major changes to your lifestyle, you can, indeed, reverse coronary artery disease. This disease is the accumulation of cholesterol-laden plaque inside the arteries nourishing your heart, a process known as atherosclerosis.

Evidence that coronary artery disease is reversible comes from autopsies performed on people who lived through prolonged periods of starvation during World War II. Their coronary arteries showed little or no atherosclerosis. But as the economies of war-stricken countries recovered and diets "improved," atherosclerosis returned. These findings are considered proof that extreme dietary changes can cause atherosclerosis to melt away.

There are natural solutions including the one we’re about to show you. By using lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and honey, you will be able to simply and healthfully unclog arteries and control blood pressure.

Garlic has been shown to be a natural way to clear blocks in the arteries, as well as reduce blood pressure and bad cholesterol levels. It can also reduce blood sugar levels, which aids in weight loss because when sugar levels are in normal ranges make it easier to control your appetite, which in turn aids in weight loss.

Ginger has been linked to the prevention of heart disease because of its ability to increase blood flow. It also has energy-producing capabilities that will help you to be more physically active, thus aiding in weight loss.

Lemon has been shown in research studies to regulate the heartbeat, restoring the proper function of the heart, helping blood to flow throughout the body easier.

Cholesterol-friendly fiber options are:

Fatty fish, such as salmon, trout, albacore tuna, and sardines.

American Heart Association has recommended that people eat fish rich in unsaturated fats at least twice a week. The unsaturated fats in fish are called omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients in fish may benefit heart health and reduce the risk of dying of heart disease.

Nuts, seeds, and legumes

The skins of fruit

Nontropical natural vegetable oils, such as olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, and safflower oil

Oats and oat bran, chia and ground flaxseeds, beans, barley, psyllium, oranges, blueberries, and Brussels sprouts.

Healthy Lungs

Inflammation Is Immune System’s Natural Response To Heal

The word “inflammation” traces back to the Latin for “set afire.” When you have rheumatoid arthritis, you feel heat, pain, redness, and swelling. But not so in cases like heart disease, and diabetes because the symptoms are not clear. Sometimes inflammation strikes suddenly when your body is fighting an infection. Maybe it’s cellulitis, a skin infection, or appendicitis, which affects your appendix. Inflammation is part of your immune system’s natural response to heal an injury or fight an infection. Long-lasting, or “chronic,” inflammation is seen in many diseases and conditions. 

Inflamed arteries are common among people with heart disease. When fats build up in the walls of the heart’s coronary arteries, the body fires back with inflammatory chemicals, since it sees this as an “injury” to the heart. That could trigger a blood clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

Inflammation and type 2 diabetes are also linked. Obesity may trigger the inflammation, making it harder for the body to use insulin. Losing extra pounds and keeping them off is an important step to lower your chance of getting type 2 diabetes.

Chronic brain inflammation is often seen in people with this type of dementia. Scientists don’t yet understand exactly how that works, but inflammation may play an active role in the disease called Alzheimer’s.

Chronic inflammation also could cause ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are types of inflammatory bowel disease. It happens when your body's immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy bacteria in your gut, and causes inflammation. You could have symptoms such as belly pain, cramping, and diarrhea.

Osteoarthritis is not “arthritis”, in which the tissue that cushions joints, cartilage, breaks down, particularly as people age. In Rheumatoid Arthritis, the immune system attacks your body’s joints, causing inflammation that can harm even the heart. Symptoms include pain, stiffness, and red, warm, swollen joints.

Fibromyalgia can cause pain, tenderness, and fatigue. Unlike in Rheumatoid Arthritis, inflammation in fibromyalgia does not attack the joints. Research suggests that brain inflammation may be associated with fibromyalgia.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) can ease inflammation and pain. Ibuprofen and naproxen, are sold over the counter, but you cannot take them regularly.

Ginger root, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, and turmeric have anti-inflammation properties. The omega-3s in fish such as salmon and tuna can reduce inflammation. Fish oil can also help. People who are low on vitamin D also tend to have more inflammation than others.

Vitamin A also boosts your immune system and guards against infectious diseases. Just 10,000 international units (IU) for 1-2 weeks can help you heal after an exercise-related injury. Liver, fish oils, milk, eggs, and leafy greens are good.

Alcohol Can Be Both Medicine And Malady

What matters is the volume of alcohol consumed. A typical cocktail will have the same amount of alcohol as a beer or a glass of wine. US Dietary Guidelines define a standard drink as 1.5oz of 80 proof alcohol distilled spirits, 5oz of wine at 12% alcohol, and 12 oz of beer at 5% alcohol.

Excessive or Binge drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems.

Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.

Don't Drink Alcohol:

If you have liver or pancreatic disease

If you have heart failure or you've been told you have a weak heart

If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol.

The Neuralink Disk Implant Aug. 28, 2020.

Blood Circulation

The Immune System And Vaccines

type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes

Heart Rate And Pulse

Heart rate is called pulse. Heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. When your heart’s beating rhythm is not normal, that's called an arrhythmia, which is the result of clogged or hardened arteries, high blood pressure, or issues with your heart’s valves.

There are four major types:

• Tachycardia: When your heart beats too fast, usually more than 100 beats a minute. A resting heart rate higher than 100 beats per minute happens most often in kids. It's also more common in women.

• Bradycardia: When your heart beats too slowly, below 60 beats a minute. A heart rate lower than 60 beats per minute can be caused by an infection, a problem with your thyroid gland (hypothyroidism), a chemical imbalance in your blood, breathing problems while you sleep (obstructive sleep apnea), or inflammatory diseases like lupus.

• Supraventricular arrhythmia: An arrhythmia that starts in your heart’s upper chambers. When you work out, your heart rate goes up.

• Ventricular arrhythmia: An arrhythmia that starts in your heart’s lower chambers. 

Resting Heart Rate

This is the number of times your heart beats in a minute when you’re not active and your heart isn’t having to work hard to pump blood through your body. Some medications like beta-blockers can slow your heartbeat and lower your resting heart rate. Most healthy adults should have a resting heart rate between 60 and 100 beats a minute. In general, the more physically fit  you are, the lower your heart rate will be. Athletes can have a normal resting heart rate in the 40s. A healthy one is a sign that your heart isn’t having to work too hard to circulate blood.

Checking Heart Rate

You can feel your heart rate by putting your first two fingers on the inside of your wrist, the inside of your elbow, the side of your neck, or on the top of your foot. Once you find it, count how many beats you feel in 15 seconds, and multiply that number by 4.

Lowering Heart Rate

A healthier lifestyle,  eating healthier, watching weight, and cutting down alcohol, caffeine, and smoking can help. Other ways to better handle stress are tai chi and meditation.

Celiac disease is called gluten-sensitive enteropathy

Celiac disease called gluten-sensitive enteropathy is an immune reaction to eating gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in your small intestine. Over time, this reaction damages your small intestine's lining and prevents it from absorbing some nutrients. The intestinal damage often causes diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, bloating and anemia, and can lead to serious complications. There's no cure for celiac disease, but following a gluten-free diet can help manage symptoms and promote intestinal healing.

“Cereals made of corn, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, sorghum, millet, amaranth, teff, rice and gluten-free oats are naturally gluten-free,” says Suzanne Dixon, RD, with The Mesothelioma Center in Orlando, Florida.