Vaccines; Who Makes Them, and What’s In Them?
Compiled by Dawn Winkler of Concerned Parents for Vaccine Safety
The following is a description of the various chemical compounds added to
vaccines for stability and other marketing purposes that have nothing to do with
children's health. The information was obtained from the 1997 Physician's Desk
Reference. This is a representative, not a comprehensive, list of various types
of vaccines. For several entries, there are direct phone numbers.
Common vaccines and their production details
BIAVAX
Rubella and mumps virus vaccine live. Merck & Company, Inc., 1-800-672-6372.
Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Medium: human diploid
cells originating from human aborted fetal tissue.
DPT
Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids acellular pertussis vaccine adsorbed.
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 1-800-366-8900, extension 5231. Produced
using aluminum phosphate, formaldehyde, ammonium sulfate, washed sheep red blood
cells, glycerol, sodium chloride, and thimerosol.* Medium: porcine (pig)
pancreatic hydrolysate of casein.
FLUSHIELD
Influenza Virus Vaccine, Trivalent, Types A & B. Wyeth-Ayerst,
1-800-934-5556. Produced using gentamicin sulfate, formaldehyde, po!ysorbate 80,
tri(n) butylphosphate, and thimerosol.* Medium: chick embryos.
FLU VIRIN
Influenza Virus Vaccine. Medeva Pharmaceuticals, 1 -888-MEDEVA (716-
274-5300). Produced using embroyonic fluid (chicken egg), neomycin, polymyxin,
thimerosol,* and betapropiolactone. Medium: embryonic fluid (chicken egg).
HAVRIX
Hepatitis A. SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 1-800-366-8900, extension
5231. Produced using formalin, aluminum hydroxide, phenoxyethanol (antifreeze),
polysorbate 20, and residual MRC5 proteins (from medium). Medium: human diploid
cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).
IM0 VAX
Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed. Connaught Laboratories, 1-800-822-2463. Produced
using human albumin, neomycin sulfate, and phenol red indicator. Medium: human
diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).
IPOL
Inactivated Polio Vaccine. Connaught Laboratories, 1-800-822-2463. Produced
using three types of polio virus, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol (anti-freeze),
neomycin, streptomycin, and polymyxin B. Medium: VERO cells, a continuous line
of monkey kidney cells.
MERUVAX II
Rubella Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using
neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Medium: human diploid cells
(originating from human aborted fetal tissue).
M-R VAX
Measles and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372.
Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Mediums: M & M --
chick embryo. Rubella -- human diploid cells (originating from human aborted
fetal tissue).
MMR
Measles Mumps Rubella Live Virus Vaccination. Merck & Company,
1-800-672-6372. Produced using sorbitol, neomycin, and hydrolyzed gelatin.
Mediums: M & M -- chick embryo. Rubella -- human diploid cells (originating from
human aborted fetal tissue).
MUMPSVAX
Mumps Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using
neomycin, sorbitol, and hydrolyzed gelatin. Medium: human diploid cells
(originating from human aborted fetal tissue).
ORIMUNE
Poliovirus Vaccine Live Oral Trivalent. Lederle Laboratories, 1-800-934-5556.
Produced using three types of attenuated polioviruses, streptomycin, neomycin,
calf serum, and sorbitol. Medium: monkey kidney cell culture.
Rabies Vaccine Adsorbed
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 1-800-366-8900, extension 5231. Produced
using betapropiolactone, aluminum phosphate, sodium ethylmercurithiosalicyate (thimerosol),*
and phenol red. Medium: fetal rhesus monkey lung cells.
RECOMBIVAX
Hepatitis B Vaccine Recombinant. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced
using thimerosol* and aluminum hydroxide. Medium: yeast (residual; less than 1
percent yeast protein).
VARIVAX
Varicella Virus Vaccine Live. Merck & Company, 1-800-672-6372. Produced using
sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, and processed gelatin. Medium: human diploid
cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).
* Warning: Thimerosal is a chemical compound that contains 49.6 percent
mercury as a preservative. Mercury is one of the most dangerous toxins known to
scientists. This is 100 times the exposure that the Environmental Protection
Agency's Poison Control Center guidelines consider safe for the average-sized
infant, as mercury is known to cause neurotoxicity and brain damage that mirrors
the symptoms of autism.
For more information, see the website of
Concerned Parents for Vaccine
Safety.
Polio - DPT contains:
DPT - Diptheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed
SmithKline Beecham Pharmeceuticals 800-366-8900 x5231
Produced using aluminum phosphate, formaldehyde, ammonium sulfate,
washed sheep red blood cells, glycerol, sodium chloride, thimerosal
medium: porcine (PIG) pancreatic hydrolsate of casein.
Here is a more thorough list. Note the anthrax vaccine and its contents,
including bovine material. Now wonder the vets got Gulf War Syndrome.
Acel-Immune
DTaP
Diptheria and Tetanus Toxoids Acellular Pertussis Vaccine adsorbed
Lederle Laboratories 800-934-5556
Produced using formaldehyde, thimerosal, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum
phosphate, polysorbate 80, gelatin.
Act HIB
Heamophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB) Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate
Connaught Laboratories 800-822-2463
Produced using ammonium sulfate, formalin, sucrose, thimerosal
Medium: semi-synthetic.
Attenuvax
Measles Virus Vaccine Live
Merck & Co, Inc. 800-672-6372
Produced using neomycin, sorbitol, hydrolized gelatin
Medium: chick embryo.
DPT
Diptheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed
SmithKline Beecham Pharmeceuticals 800-366-8900 x5231
Produced using aluminum phosphate, formaldehyde, ammonium sulfate,
washed sheep red blood cells, glycerol, sodium chloride, thimerosal.
Medium: porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolsate of casein.
Hepatitis B
SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals 800-633-8900 x5231
Produced using aluminum hydroxide, thimerosal.
Medium: yeast (possibly 5% residual).
IPOL
Inactivated Polio Vaccine
Connought Laboratories 1-800-822-2463
Produced using 3 types of polio virus, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol
(antifreeze), neomycin, streptomycin, polymixin B.
Medium: VERO cells, a continuous line of Monkey kidney cells.
MMR
Measles Mumps Rubella Live Viruse Vaccine
Merck & Co., Inc. 800-934-5556
Produced using sorbitol, neomycin, hydrolized gelatin.
Mediums: M&M - chick embryo.
Rubella - Human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue).
Orimune
Poliovirus Vaccine Live Oral Trivalent
Lederle Laboratories 800-934-5556
Produced using 3 types of attenuated polioviruses, streptomycin,
neomycin, calf serum, sorbitol.
Medium: monkey kidney cell culture
Varivax
Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (chicken pox Vaccine)
Merck & Co., Inc. 800-672-6372
Produced using sucrose, phosphate, glutamate, proceessed gelatin
medium: Human Diploid Cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
Vaccines Grown In Aborted Fetal Cell Cultures
Chickenpox, VARIVAX: Merck
Hepatitis A, VAQTA: Merck
Polio (oral), Poliovac, Canada: Connaught
Polio, IMOVAX: Connaught
Rabies, Imovax: Pasteur Merieux
Rubella, MERUVAX: Merck
Vaccines With Live Virus
Chickenpox, VARIVAX: Merck
Measles, ATTENUVAX: Merck
Measles and Mumps, M-M-Vax: Merck
Measles, Mumps and Rubella, M-M-RII: Merck
Measles and Rubella, M-R-VaxII: Merck
Mumps, MUMPSVAX: Merck
Rubella, MERUVAX: Merck
Rubella and Mumps: BIAVAX
Vaccines - Genetically-Engineered
Hepatitis B: Merck
Hepatitis B: SmithKline Beecham
Lyme, LYMERIX: SmithKline Beecham
RSV, Synapis: MedIMMUNE (vaccine or preventive treatment?)
Vaccines With Animal And Cattle Parts
Chickenpox, VARIVAX -- fetal bovine serum: Merck
Diphtheria, Tetanus, accelular Pertusssis, Acel-Immune -- beef heart
infusion: Lederle
Infanrix -- bovine extract: SmithKline Beecham
Flu, FLUSHIELD -- chick embryos: Wyeth: Fluzone -- chicken embryos: Connaught
Measles, ATTENUVAX -- hydrolyzed gelatin: Merck
Measles, Mumps and Rubella, M-M-RII -- hydrolyzed gelatin: Merck
Mumps, MuMPSVAX -- hydrolyzed gelatin: Merck
Polio, IPOL -- calf serum, monkey kidney cells: Pasteur Merieux
Polio (oral), ORIMUNE -- kidney cells, calf serum: Lederle
Rubella, MERUVAX -- hydrolyzed gelatin: Merck
Rubella and Mumps, BIAVAX -- hydrolyzed gelatin: Merck
Vaccines Using Cattle Material - (blood, fetal calf serum, meat broth--from
countries U.S. government states have a RISK OF MAD COW DISEASES.)
Anthrax: *BioPort DPT
Certiva, Anthrax: *BioPort DPT
Certiva, , diptheria, pertussis, tetanus: North American/Baxter International
DPT: Infanrix, diptheria, pertussis, tetanus: GlaxoSmithKline Beecham
Hep A: *Havrix, hepatitis A: GlaxoSmithKline Beecham
Hib *ActHIB, haemophilus influenza Type B: Aventis Pasteur
Hib: *OmniHIB: haemophilus influenza Type B: GlaxoSmithKline Beecham
Pneumonia, *PNU-IMUNE 23: Lederle/American Home Products
Polio IPOL: Aventis Pasteur
* Cattle parts are NOT LISTED in vaccine package insert
Illiniois Vaccine Awareness Coalition (IVAC)
