Abstract

This research work tends to know the components of a flu vaccine, kinds of flu

vaccine and its function that makes vaccine effective to the patients. This research

work will also give awareness to the readers about the negative reactions of the flu

vaccines to the patients.

Introduction

Prior to 1933, there was a bacterium named haemophilus influenzae which was thought to the

origin of flu. 1n 1933, the researchers discovered that viruses (influenza virus type A, B, and

sometimes C) that caused the influenza. In 1938, Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Thomas Francis developed

the first vaccine against flu viruses. In 1945, the first flu vaccine was used to protect the U.S.

military forces only against the flu during World War II. Later, the vaccine was allowed for civilian

used.1 In other hand, Dr. Salk used his experience with influenza vaccine to develop an

effective polio vaccine in 1952. On the following years, vaccines were produced but they were not

as purified as modern vaccines, and that is why impurities in vaccines were thought to contribute to

side effects such as fever, aches, and fatigues. Since these symptoms were similar to those side

effects that causes the flu, people mistakenly thought that they got the flu from the vaccine.

However, they did not get the flu from the vaccines 2.

1 https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline#EVT_101053

2 https://www.emedicinehealth.com/flu_vaccine/page2_em.htm
Methodology

The research was done through collecting information and facts from trusted cites and

articles.

Results and Findings

What is an Influenza Vaccine?

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Vaccine is a substance that is injected to a

person or animal with a specific disease.3 Influenza Vaccine or Flu vaccine is used to

protect a person or animal from a disease caused by the Influenza Virus. After vaccination,

the flu vaccine will cause the antibodies to develop inside the body to provide a protection

from infection with the viruses in the vaccine.

What kinds of Flu Vaccines are available?

Centers for Disease Control recommends the use of injectable influenza vaccines during

2017-2018. Nasal Spray flu vaccine should not be used during 2017-2018. Traditional flu

vaccine or Trivalent vaccines are developed to protect the patients against three flu viruses;

an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an Influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus.4

Trivalent flu vaccine includes:

3 Merriam-Webster Dictionary
4 https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
  Standard-dose trivalent shot (IIV3) are manufactured using virus that was

intentionally grown in eggs. This flu vaccine shot can be given for persons 18 to 64

years of age.
 High-dose trivalent shot can be given for people with 65 years of age and older.
 Recombinant trivalent shot that is egg-free is approved for people 18 years and

older, including pregnant woman.

 Trivalent flu shot made with adjuvant (an ingredient of vaccine that creates a

stronger immune response in the patient’s body). This was approved for the people

65 years and older.

There were also flu vaccines developed to protect against four flu viruses called

Quadrivalent vaccines that could protect against four viruses. The same as the trivalent

vaccine and an additional influenza B virus5.

Quadrivalent flu vaccines include:

 Quadrivalent flu shots containing virus grown in cell culture were approved to use

in different age groups, including children as young as six months old.

 Intradermal quadrivalent flu shot which is injected into the skin of muscle using a

smaller needle than a regular flu shot. It is approved for people 18 to 64 years of

age.
 Recombinant quadrivalent flu shot, approved people 18 years of age and older,

including pregnant women.

5 https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
Who should NOT get a flu shot?

Don’t get a flu shot if you have the following conditions.

Previous bad reaction- People who have had a bad reaction to the flu vaccine in the past should not

get a flu shot.

Egg allergy- People who are severely allergic to eggs should avoid vaccination. If you are mildly

allergic, talk to your doctor. You may still qualify for the vaccine.

Mercury allergy- People who are allergic to mercury should not get the vaccine shot. Some flu

vaccines contain very little amounts of mercury to prevent vaccine contamination.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)- Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a rare side effect that can

occur after receiving the flu vaccine which causes the immune system to attack and damage the

protective coating around nerve cells, causes extreme weakness and tingling in the limbs, known as

severe peripheral neuropathy. It can be life-threatening in rare cases.

Fever- If you have a fever the day of the vaccination, you should wait until it’s gone before

receiving the shot.6

What’s in a flu shot?

6 https://www.healthline.com/health/flu/importance-of-flu-shot#whoshould-avoid-the-shot5
  Active ingredients are the key ingredients in all vaccines. It is made from

viruses or bacteria (also called ‘antigens’). They challenge the immune

system so that the body makes antibodies to fight the disease. Some vaccines

contain whole bacteria or viruses. In these cases, the bacteria or viruses will

either be severely weakened (attenuated) so that they cannot cause disease in

healthy people, or killed altogether (inactivated). Many vaccines contain only

parts of viruses or bacteria, usually proteins or sugars from the surface.

These stimulate the immune system but cannot cause disease.

 Inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV) contain flu viruses that have been killed so

they can’t cause the flu.

 Live influenza vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray contains a live, but weakened form of

the virus.

Ingredients that could be found in Flu vaccine and its purposes:

Egg protein from the chicken egg is where the viruses grown. The virus needs somewhere

to grow before it’s in the vaccine, and that’s where eggs can be useful. For most of the flu

vaccines, the virus copies itself while it is inside the fertilized chicken eggs. It is then

separated from the egg for vaccination. A few products that are used in vaccine

manufacture are a risk to some people, even in small amounts, because they can cause

allergic reactions like egg proteins. Preservatives like thimerosal are added by the
manufacturers to prevent dangerous bacteria and fungi from getting into the vials with each

use. Thimerosal contains mercury, which can be toxic in large amounts. There isn’t enough

evidence to show the small amount contained in the flu vaccine that made it dangerous.

Thimerosal does have an ethylmercury base. This is not the same common mercury that

can cause illness in large doses. Methylmercury, the mercury found in seafood, can stay in

the body for years.

Stabilizers like Sucrose is the same table sugar spooned into coffee, Sorbitol is an artificial

sweetener that is also found in chewing gum and Monosodium glutamate (MSG) are used

to keep vaccines stable. The amount of the said stabilizers found in the flu vaccine are very

small. They prevent vaccines from losing potency, even when exposed to heat and light.

Antibiotics like Neomycin, Gentamicin, and other antibiotics are added to vaccines in very

small amounts. They stop bacteria from contaminating the vaccine. Another ingredient is

Polysorbate 80. This emulsifier prevents the sauces and the salad dressings from

separating. In vaccines, polysorbate 80 keeps all the ingredients evenly distributed. Though

large doses can cause some people to have reactions, the amount in the flu vaccine is very

small. The last ingredient is Formaldehyde. This natural compound is found in household

products from glues and other adhesives. It’s used in the flu vaccine to inactivate influenza

virus. People may think of formaldehyde as a man-made chemical, but in small quantities

it is also found naturally in the bloodstream. The human body produces and uses

formaldehyde as part of the process of metabolism. The amount of natural formaldehyde in

a 2-month-old infant’s blood is around 1.1 milligrams in total and is ten times greater than

the amount found in any vaccine (less than 0.1 milligrams).7

Added ingredients

These other products which are also components of developed vaccines are aluminum salt,

gelatine and human serum albumin. Those products are listed on vaccine information as

inactive ingredients. Like vaccines, most of the medicines we use also contains inactive

ingredients. Most vaccines do not now contain the preservative thiomersal (also called

thimerosal). Sorbitol and other stabilize is produced naturally in the human body and also

found in fruit and berries. Sorbitol is commonly used as a sweetener in foods and

beverages. In vaccines it is used in small quantities as a stabilizer. Aluminium, as an

adjuvant, contributes in slowing down the release of active ingredients from the vaccine

once it is injected to the patient. Adjuvants are also active in preventing sickness from the

disease after receiving the shot. Aluminum is the most used adjuvant in vaccines for over

80 years. It also strengthens and lengthens the immune response of the vaccine. The

amount of aluminum salt is extremely small – less than 2 milligrams of salt and less than a

milligram of aluminum. It is found naturally in breast milk, formula milk, some foods and

drinking water. There is no evidence that this causes any risk to babies and children. They

7https://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/what-ingredient-specifically-scares-you-in-the-
flu-vaccine-and-why/
also absorb protein well, and stop the proteins in the vaccine sticking to the walls of a

container during storage.8 Gelatin gives a simple purpose in a flu shot. It is to keep the

vaccine effective between manufacturing and use. It is also used to protect live viruses

against the effects of temperature. For those that are against consumption of animal

products or have an allergy to pork, this ingredient may be an issue. Most flu vaccines use

a pig-based collagen as their stabilizer. But, for anyone with no problem eating candy or

marshmallows, both of which use pig-based gelatin, the amount in a flu vaccine won’t be

an issue. Gelatine in vaccines is highly purified and hydrolysed (broken down by water), so

it is different from the natural gelatine used in foods. There have been a tiny number of

cases of allergic reaction to vaccines containing gelatin.9 Human serum albumin is the most

common protein found in human blood. It is sometimes used in very small quantities as a

stabilizer in one of the chickenpox vaccines. It comes from blood donors who undergone

tests, and the manufacturing process takes away any risk of passing on viruses from the

serum. No viral diseases have ever been linked to the use of human serum albumin.10

Conclusion

8 https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/flu-shot-ingredients#ingredients2
9 https://www.passporthealthusa.com/2016/10/what-ingredients-are-in-the-flu-shot/
10 http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vaccine-ingredients
Therefore, I conclude, the influenza vaccine was not only comprised of pure and safe

chemicals. It also has body tissue from animals, dangerous chemical and the virus that

causes the disease. However, these questionable components in the first place could be a

great help for the development of new vaccines against the evolving viruses every year. In

addition, not all vaccines are compatible to each person. It may cause a bad reaction in

your body that may result to a severe situation.

Recommendation

This research work is not a very complex one. Readers might get ideas from this work that

could bring them in a deeper topic about vaccine and its components. Influenza virus are

evolving every year, so readers might be interested to know the latest information about the

influenza virus. in addition, readers might get a good conclusion after comparing this work

to his or her work.

References
 Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline#EVT_101053

 https://www.emedicinehealth.com/flu_vaccine/page2_em.htm

 https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

 https://www.healthline.com/health/flu/importance-of-flu-shot#whoshould-avoid-

the-shot5
 https://drjengunter.wordpress.com/2015/01/06/what-ingredient-specifically-scares-

you-in-the-flu-vaccine-and-why/
 https://www.healthline.com/health/cold-flu/flu-shot-ingredients#ingredients2
 https://www.passporthealthusa.com/2016/10/what-ingredients-are-in-the-flu-shot/
 http://vk.ovg.ox.ac.uk/vaccine-ingredients

Matutum View Academy

Acmonan, Tupi, South Cotabato
 S.Y. 2017-2018

Research work
In
Influenza Vaccine:
What is a shot comprised of and how does it repel
disease-does it have disease, body tissues, and
chemical components in it?

Submitted to:
Mrs. Raquel L. Villanueva, MAT

Submitted by:
Rigel Ree C. Ancheta