Boostrix:

This vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

Ingredients:

Active ingredients:

Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, inactivated pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin (a cell surface protein), and pertactin, which is a protein on the outer surface of the cell.

Inactive ingredients:
Amounts are based on a 0.5 mL dose

Adjuvants: strengthen the immune response to the vaccine

Salts: help maintain the stability and pH of the vaccine

Other:

Relevant Terms:

Adjuvant: a compound added to some vaccines to strengthen the immune response
Antibody: a protein made by the immune system in response to a foreign particle (antigen). These proteins circulate in the blood and help defend the body against the substance.
Antigen: This is any substance that triggers the immune system to create antibodies. For example, allergens such as pollen are antigens.
Antitoxin: an antibody that neutralizes toxins
Bacterium: The singular of bacteria (one bacterium, two bacteria)
Carbohydrates: This is another word for sugars.
Emulsifier: a substance that helps to keep the ingredients mixed together
pH: a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is. The scale ranges from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very basic). A pH of 7 is neutral.
Toxoid: an inactive version of a toxin produced by a bacterium. The body is able to make antitoxin without being exposed to the actual toxin. Toxoids are not toxic.

Relevant Terms

Sources