WEBVTT - What's Really in the Flu Vaccine? 0:00:01.920 --> 0:00:06.680 Welcome to Brainstuff, a production of iHeart Radio, Hey brain 0:00:06.720 --> 0:00:11.520 Stuff Lauren Volga bam here. Misunderstandings about flu vaccines have 0:00:11.680 --> 0:00:15.880 existed for decades, leading to vaccine mistrust and lower than 0:00:15.920 --> 0:00:20.200 ideal vaccination rates. Now that a coronavirus vaccine appears to 0:00:20.239 --> 0:00:23.440 be close, experts are concerned that the lack of trust 0:00:23.480 --> 0:00:27.120 and understanding about flu vaccines could translate into lower than 0:00:27.160 --> 0:00:32.880 optimal coronavirus vaccination rates. Recent surveys suggest that many Americans 0:00:33.040 --> 0:00:36.720 would not get vaccinated for COVID nineteen. A Pew Research 0:00:36.760 --> 0:00:40.920 Center study released in September reported that nearly half definitely 0:00:41.080 --> 0:00:45.280 or probably would not. The persistence of anti vaccine sentiment, 0:00:45.560 --> 0:00:49.600 partly based on mistrust of vaccine ingredients, is likely contributing 0:00:49.640 --> 0:00:53.519 to this hesitancy, and the lack of trust is especially 0:00:53.600 --> 0:00:57.880 upsetting to public health officials, doctors, and other scientists. The 0:00:57.960 --> 0:01:01.640 issue is not just troubling, but so frustrating because a 0:01:01.680 --> 0:01:05.920 major reason for vaccine reluctance sprang from a debunked, retracted, 0:01:06.040 --> 0:01:10.120 and outright false article. Even though the study that that 0:01:10.240 --> 0:01:14.120 article reported on was discredited a decade ago, Undoing the 0:01:14.200 --> 0:01:18.160 damage has been difficult. The whole situation showed how easy 0:01:18.200 --> 0:01:22.120 it is to disseminate incorrect information, particularly over the Internet. 0:01:23.280 --> 0:01:27.000 The authors of today's episode are drug information pharmacists, and 0:01:27.120 --> 0:01:30.000 as such, they wanted to review the ingredients that have 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:33.600 caused so much controversy and to remind you that this 0:01:33.680 --> 0:01:36.680 is a great time to get your flu vaccine. As 0:01:36.720 --> 0:01:40.880 coronavirus cases sore, threatening not only lives, but the ability 0:01:40.920 --> 0:01:44.000 of hospitals to care for them. Getting a flu vaccine 0:01:44.040 --> 0:01:48.760 is a crucial part of self care and healthcare. So 0:01:48.920 --> 0:01:52.120 let's start with the basics. The flu vaccine is different 0:01:52.200 --> 0:01:55.600 every year. That's because there are different types of viruses 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:59.920 and strains of each virus. The flu vaccine is different 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:02.800 every year, and that's because there are different types of 0:02:02.880 --> 0:02:06.800 viruses and strains of each virus. The contents of the 0:02:06.880 --> 0:02:09.639 vaccine depend on the kind of flu that has been 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:14.280 circulating in any given year. The FDA Vaccines and Related 0:02:14.280 --> 0:02:17.880 Biological Products Advisory Committee determines vaccine for the coming flu 0:02:17.960 --> 0:02:21.239 season using the best scientific evidence at hand to determine 0:02:21.320 --> 0:02:25.200 which virus strains should be included. To mass produce the 0:02:25.200 --> 0:02:28.400 flu vaccine, a large amount of virus needs to be replicated. 0:02:29.800 --> 0:02:33.120 Vaccine manufacturers do this in chicken eggs or in animal 0:02:33.200 --> 0:02:36.239 cell lines, from which the virus can then be harvested. 0:02:36.720 --> 0:02:39.880 The final product may contain trace amounts of egg protein. 0:02:40.520 --> 0:02:45.240 Even individuals with egg allergies can usually receive these vaccines. However, 0:02:45.400 --> 0:02:48.640 for those with severe allergy to egg proteins, flu vaccines 0:02:48.680 --> 0:02:53.280 that don't contain egg protein are available. The finished flu 0:02:53.400 --> 0:02:56.880 vaccines carry a killed or dead version of the virus. 0:02:57.600 --> 0:03:00.600 In turn, your body mounts an immune response, but the 0:03:00.680 --> 0:03:04.359 vaccine cannot cause the flu because the virus is killed. 0:03:05.680 --> 0:03:09.200 One flu vaccine administered as a nasal spray called flu 0:03:09.320 --> 0:03:12.880 mist does contain a weakened form of the live virus. 0:03:13.639 --> 0:03:16.600 In healthy people, this won't cause the flu, but it 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.240 can cause runny or stuffy nose, headache, and sore throat. 0:03:21.120 --> 0:03:24.040 The live weakened flu vaccine should not be used if 0:03:24.080 --> 0:03:26.480 you have a weakened immune system or caring for someone 0:03:26.560 --> 0:03:31.080 with a compromised immune system. Chemical agents are used to 0:03:31.160 --> 0:03:34.960 enactivate the virus, but the amount of any inactivating agent 0:03:35.040 --> 0:03:39.680 in the finished flu vaccine is negligible. One common agent 0:03:39.840 --> 0:03:44.440 used is formaldehyde, but don't worry, higher levels of formaldehyde 0:03:44.480 --> 0:03:48.520 are naturally found in fruits. An average apple contains six 0:03:48.600 --> 0:03:51.520 hundred times more formaldehyde than is found in a dose 0:03:51.680 --> 0:03:56.600 a flu vaccine. Vaccines also must be stabilized to help 0:03:56.640 --> 0:03:59.600 maintain the effectiveness of the vaccine in case it's exposed 0:03:59.640 --> 0:04:03.000 to eat light or moisture, or if it experiences changes 0:04:03.040 --> 0:04:08.480 in acidity. Vaccine makers use stabilizers such as sucrose, sorbitol, gelatine, 0:04:08.600 --> 0:04:12.800 and monosodium glutamate or MSG. All of these are food 0:04:12.880 --> 0:04:17.599 ingredients found in almost every kitchen. Sucrose and sorbitol are sugars. 0:04:17.839 --> 0:04:21.039 Gelatine is derived from collagen and used in jello and 0:04:21.040 --> 0:04:25.480 gummy bears. Monosodium glutamate adds flavor to many seasonings and dishes, 0:04:26.360 --> 0:04:29.520 and the amount of stabilizer found in flu vaccines is 0:04:29.640 --> 0:04:32.920 very small. The average person consumes much more of these 0:04:33.000 --> 0:04:37.080 ingredients per day through normal food consumption. For example, the 0:04:37.120 --> 0:04:39.880 amount of sugar and gelatine in a vaccine dose is 0:04:39.920 --> 0:04:42.320 far less than that found in a single gummy bear, 0:04:43.120 --> 0:04:46.000 and for those with gelatine allergies or who otherwise don't 0:04:46.000 --> 0:04:49.320 eat gelatine, a flu vaccine without it is easy to find, 0:04:50.720 --> 0:04:55.600 And then there are sometimes preservatives. Vaccines can get contaminated 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:59.320 and to prevent that. Thimerosol is sometimes added to prevent 0:04:59.400 --> 0:05:02.960 bacterial or fungal contamination from using the same vial to 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:07.240 deliver multiple doses. The discredit study that we mentioned earlier 0:05:07.560 --> 0:05:10.720 led many people to believe that thimerisol and vaccines can 0:05:10.839 --> 0:05:14.920 cause autism, but multiple studies that followed could not establish 0:05:14.960 --> 0:05:20.880 an association between thimerosol containing vaccines and autism. Thimerosol does 0:05:20.960 --> 0:05:24.960 contain an organic derivative of mercury called ethyl mercury, which 0:05:25.000 --> 0:05:26.960 is one of two types of the element to which 0:05:27.000 --> 0:05:30.839 people may be exposed. The body actually eliminates it more 0:05:30.880 --> 0:05:34.320 easily than the second type, called methyl mercury, which is 0:05:34.360 --> 0:05:38.520 the type found in contaminated fish. It is true that 0:05:38.640 --> 0:05:42.320 high exposures to mercury can affect central nervous system, but 0:05:42.440 --> 0:05:45.200 the amount of elemental mercury found in a vaccine dose 0:05:45.440 --> 0:05:48.440 is twenty five micrograms, which equates to the amount and 0:05:48.480 --> 0:05:51.680 a three ounce can of tuna fish. That said, because 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:54.680 thimerosol is only found in multi dose vials, it can 0:05:54.720 --> 0:05:58.160 easily be avoided by receiving a thimerosol free single dose 0:05:58.200 --> 0:06:02.880 flu vaccine. Of flu vaccines may also contain added ingredients. 0:06:03.400 --> 0:06:06.960 One vaccine called flu AD and flu AD quadrivalent is 0:06:07.000 --> 0:06:10.560 approved to prevent seasonal influenza in adults age sixty five 0:06:10.560 --> 0:06:14.640 and older. It contains an extra ingredient or adjuvant to 0:06:14.680 --> 0:06:18.200 boost the immune response. The adjuvant in this vaccine is 0:06:18.400 --> 0:06:20.960 m F fifty nine, which is an oil and water 0:06:21.000 --> 0:06:26.320 emulsion of squaling. Oil Squaling is found naturally in plants, animals, 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:29.600 and the human body. The squaling in the flu vaccine, 0:06:29.640 --> 0:06:32.599 which is highly purified, is obtained from shark liver. Oil 0:06:33.320 --> 0:06:36.560 squaling from shark livers is also present in some cosmetics, 0:06:36.680 --> 0:06:40.720 over the counter medicines, and dietary health supplements. Each dose 0:06:40.760 --> 0:06:43.800 of vaccine contains about the amount of squaling found in 0:06:43.880 --> 0:06:47.880 four teaspoons of olive oil. No severe reactions associated with 0:06:47.920 --> 0:06:53.320 squaling in vaccines have been observed. Finally, antibiotics are often 0:06:53.440 --> 0:06:57.640 used in vaccine production to prevent bacterial contamination during manufacturing. 0:06:58.160 --> 0:07:00.919 In some cases, very small amount may be in the 0:07:01.040 --> 0:07:05.600 finished vaccines. These antibiotics are not the ones commonly associated 0:07:05.600 --> 0:07:10.280 with severe allergic reactions, like penicillin, setalosporins, and sulfa drugs. 0:07:11.360 --> 0:07:14.480 The trace amounts of antibiotics that vaccines do contain have 0:07:14.640 --> 0:07:18.560 not been clearly associated with severe allergic reactions for those 0:07:18.600 --> 0:07:21.760 who have experienced an allergic reaction to one of these antibiotics, 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:26.040 though flu vaccines are available that do not contain them. 0:07:26.200 --> 0:07:29.720 So different formulations of the flu vaccine can contain a 0:07:29.800 --> 0:07:33.640 variety of ingredients, but most are in extremely small quantities. 0:07:34.320 --> 0:07:37.440 They are unlikely to produce negative effects when administered as 0:07:37.440 --> 0:07:40.640 a single dose once a year. Unless a person has 0:07:40.680 --> 0:07:43.560 a history of a severe allergic reaction to an ingredient, 0:07:43.920 --> 0:07:48.440 most flu vaccines can be safely administered. Centuries ago, the 0:07:48.480 --> 0:07:52.800 so called father of toxicology, Paracelsus, said, what is there 0:07:52.840 --> 0:07:56.160 that is not poison? All things are poison, and nothing 0:07:56.360 --> 0:08:00.840 is without poison. And it's true water is healthy for 0:08:00.920 --> 0:08:03.520 us in appropriate amounts, but too little or too much 0:08:03.520 --> 0:08:06.440 of it could potentially lead to death. It's the dose, 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:10.000 as paras Eelsis says, that determines whether or not something 0:08:10.080 --> 0:08:13.679 is dangerous. All of these centuries later, consider that sage 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:21.560 advice when you think about taking the flu vaccine. Today's 0:08:21.560 --> 0:08:23.680 episode was produced by Tyler Clang and it was written 0:08:23.680 --> 0:08:26.800 by Terry Levine, a professor of pharmacy and a pie Kim, 0:08:26.840 --> 0:08:30.880 a clinical assistant professor, both at Washington State University. The 0:08:31.000 --> 0:08:33.599 article that this episode was based on was republished on 0:08:33.640 --> 0:08:36.720 how stuffworks dot com from The Conversation dot com under 0:08:36.720 --> 0:08:39.679 a Creative Commons license. Brain Stuff is production of I 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:42.320 Heart Radio. For more podcasts in My Heart Radio, visit 0:08:42.360 --> 0:08:44.720 the I heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 0:08:44.760 --> 0:08:46.000 listen to your favorite shows.