1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Brainstuff, a production of iHeart Radio, Hey brain 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:11,520 Speaker 1: Stuff Lauren Volga bam here. Misunderstandings about flu vaccines have 3 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: existed for decades, leading to vaccine mistrust and lower than 4 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: ideal vaccination rates. Now that a coronavirus vaccine appears to 5 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: be close, experts are concerned that the lack of trust 6 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: and understanding about flu vaccines could translate into lower than 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 1: optimal coronavirus vaccination rates. Recent surveys suggest that many Americans 8 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: would not get vaccinated for COVID nineteen. A Pew Research 9 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: Center study released in September reported that nearly half definitely 10 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: or probably would not. The persistence of anti vaccine sentiment, 11 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: partly based on mistrust of vaccine ingredients, is likely contributing 12 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:53,519 Speaker 1: to this hesitancy, and the lack of trust is especially 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: upsetting to public health officials, doctors, and other scientists. The 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: issue is not just troubling, but so frustrating because a 15 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: major reason for vaccine reluctance sprang from a debunked, retracted, 16 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: and outright false article. Even though the study that that 17 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: article reported on was discredited a decade ago, Undoing the 18 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: damage has been difficult. The whole situation showed how easy 19 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: it is to disseminate incorrect information, particularly over the Internet. 20 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: The authors of today's episode are drug information pharmacists, and 21 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 1: as such, they wanted to review the ingredients that have 22 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,600 Speaker 1: caused so much controversy and to remind you that this 23 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 1: is a great time to get your flu vaccine. As 24 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: coronavirus cases sore, threatening not only lives, but the ability 25 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: of hospitals to care for them. Getting a flu vaccine 26 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: is a crucial part of self care and healthcare. So 27 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,120 Speaker 1: let's start with the basics. The flu vaccine is different 28 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: every year. That's because there are different types of viruses 29 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: and strains of each virus. The flu vaccine is different 30 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: every year, and that's because there are different types of 31 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 1: viruses and strains of each virus. The contents of the 32 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: vaccine depend on the kind of flu that has been 33 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: circulating in any given year. The FDA Vaccines and Related 34 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: Biological Products Advisory Committee determines vaccine for the coming flu 35 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,239 Speaker 1: season using the best scientific evidence at hand to determine 36 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: which virus strains should be included. To mass produce the 37 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: flu vaccine, a large amount of virus needs to be replicated. 38 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: Vaccine manufacturers do this in chicken eggs or in animal 39 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,239 Speaker 1: cell lines, from which the virus can then be harvested. 40 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 1: The final product may contain trace amounts of egg protein. 41 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: Even individuals with egg allergies can usually receive these vaccines. However, 42 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,640 Speaker 1: for those with severe allergy to egg proteins, flu vaccines 43 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: that don't contain egg protein are available. The finished flu 44 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: vaccines carry a killed or dead version of the virus. 45 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: In turn, your body mounts an immune response, but the 46 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: vaccine cannot cause the flu because the virus is killed. 47 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: One flu vaccine administered as a nasal spray called flu 48 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: mist does contain a weakened form of the live virus. 49 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: In healthy people, this won't cause the flu, but it 50 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: can cause runny or stuffy nose, headache, and sore throat. 51 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: The live weakened flu vaccine should not be used if 52 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: you have a weakened immune system or caring for someone 53 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 1: with a compromised immune system. Chemical agents are used to 54 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: enactivate the virus, but the amount of any inactivating agent 55 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: in the finished flu vaccine is negligible. One common agent 56 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: used is formaldehyde, but don't worry, higher levels of formaldehyde 57 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: are naturally found in fruits. An average apple contains six 58 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: hundred times more formaldehyde than is found in a dose 59 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 1: a flu vaccine. Vaccines also must be stabilized to help 60 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: maintain the effectiveness of the vaccine in case it's exposed 61 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: to eat light or moisture, or if it experiences changes 62 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 1: in acidity. Vaccine makers use stabilizers such as sucrose, sorbitol, gelatine, 63 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: and monosodium glutamate or MSG. All of these are food 64 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:17,599 Speaker 1: ingredients found in almost every kitchen. Sucrose and sorbitol are sugars. 65 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,039 Speaker 1: Gelatine is derived from collagen and used in jello and 66 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: gummy bears. Monosodium glutamate adds flavor to many seasonings and dishes, 67 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: and the amount of stabilizer found in flu vaccines is 68 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 1: very small. The average person consumes much more of these 69 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: ingredients per day through normal food consumption. For example, the 70 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: amount of sugar and gelatine in a vaccine dose is 71 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: far less than that found in a single gummy bear, 72 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 1: and for those with gelatine allergies or who otherwise don't 73 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: eat gelatine, a flu vaccine without it is easy to find, 74 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: And then there are sometimes preservatives. Vaccines can get contaminated 75 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: and to prevent that. Thimerosol is sometimes added to prevent 76 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: bacterial or fungal contamination from using the same vial to 77 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: deliver multiple doses. The discredit study that we mentioned earlier 78 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: led many people to believe that thimerisol and vaccines can 79 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 1: cause autism, but multiple studies that followed could not establish 80 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: an association between thimerosol containing vaccines and autism. Thimerosol does 81 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:24,960 Speaker 1: contain an organic derivative of mercury called ethyl mercury, which 82 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 1: is one of two types of the element to which 83 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: people may be exposed. The body actually eliminates it more 84 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: easily than the second type, called methyl mercury, which is 85 00:05:34,360 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: the type found in contaminated fish. It is true that 86 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: high exposures to mercury can affect central nervous system, but 87 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,200 Speaker 1: the amount of elemental mercury found in a vaccine dose 88 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:48,440 Speaker 1: is twenty five micrograms, which equates to the amount and 89 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: a three ounce can of tuna fish. That said, because 90 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: thimerosol is only found in multi dose vials, it can 91 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 1: easily be avoided by receiving a thimerosol free single dose 92 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: flu vaccine. Of flu vaccines may also contain added ingredients. 93 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 1: One vaccine called flu AD and flu AD quadrivalent is 94 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: approved to prevent seasonal influenza in adults age sixty five 95 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: and older. It contains an extra ingredient or adjuvant to 96 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: boost the immune response. The adjuvant in this vaccine is 97 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: m F fifty nine, which is an oil and water 98 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 1: emulsion of squaling. Oil Squaling is found naturally in plants, animals, 99 00:06:26,400 --> 00:06:29,600 Speaker 1: and the human body. The squaling in the flu vaccine, 100 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:32,599 Speaker 1: which is highly purified, is obtained from shark liver. Oil 101 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: squaling from shark livers is also present in some cosmetics, 102 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: over the counter medicines, and dietary health supplements. Each dose 103 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 1: of vaccine contains about the amount of squaling found in 104 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: four teaspoons of olive oil. No severe reactions associated with 105 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: squaling in vaccines have been observed. Finally, antibiotics are often 106 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: used in vaccine production to prevent bacterial contamination during manufacturing. 107 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 1: In some cases, very small amount may be in the 108 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: finished vaccines. These antibiotics are not the ones commonly associated 109 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:10,280 Speaker 1: with severe allergic reactions, like penicillin, setalosporins, and sulfa drugs. 110 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: The trace amounts of antibiotics that vaccines do contain have 111 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: not been clearly associated with severe allergic reactions for those 112 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 1: who have experienced an allergic reaction to one of these antibiotics, 113 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: though flu vaccines are available that do not contain them. 114 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:29,720 Speaker 1: So different formulations of the flu vaccine can contain a 115 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: variety of ingredients, but most are in extremely small quantities. 116 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: They are unlikely to produce negative effects when administered as 117 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 1: a single dose once a year. Unless a person has 118 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 1: a history of a severe allergic reaction to an ingredient, 119 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:48,440 Speaker 1: most flu vaccines can be safely administered. Centuries ago, the 120 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 1: so called father of toxicology, Paracelsus, said, what is there 121 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: that is not poison? All things are poison, and nothing 122 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: is without poison. And it's true water is healthy for 123 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 1: us in appropriate amounts, but too little or too much 124 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: of it could potentially lead to death. It's the dose, 125 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: as paras Eelsis says, that determines whether or not something 126 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:13,679 Speaker 1: is dangerous. All of these centuries later, consider that sage 127 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 1: advice when you think about taking the flu vaccine. Today's 128 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: episode was produced by Tyler Clang and it was written 129 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:26,800 Speaker 1: by Terry Levine, a professor of pharmacy and a pie Kim, 130 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: a clinical assistant professor, both at Washington State University. The 131 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:33,599 Speaker 1: article that this episode was based on was republished on 132 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: how stuffworks dot com from The Conversation dot com under 133 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: a Creative Commons license. Brain Stuff is production of I 134 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,320 Speaker 1: Heart Radio. For more podcasts in My Heart Radio, visit 135 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,720 Speaker 1: the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 136 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.