Havrix
This is one of the hepatitis A vaccines
Ingredients:
Active ingredients:
Inactivated hepatitis A virus
Note: this vaccine uses MRC-5 cells to grow the active ingredients in the vaccine. These cells are considered safe. This vaccine may contain traces of proteins from MRC-5 cells.
Inactive ingredients:
Amounts are based on a 1 mL dose (adult dose)
Children usually receive a 0.5 mL dose, which has the same ingredients but half the amount of each ingredient.
Adjuvants: strengthen the immune response to the vaccine
Antibiotics: used to prevent contamination during the manufacturing process
Other:
Relevant Terms
-
Antibiotics: substances that kill bacteria or prevent them from dividing. Antibiotics are used in some vaccines to prevent contamination during the manufacturing process.
-
Emulsifier: a substance that helps to keep the ingredients mixed together
-
MRC-5 cells: These are fibroblast cells from human fetuses that are used to grow active ingredients for vaccines. Fibroblast cells connect skin to connective tissue. These cells come from fetuses that were terminated in the 1960s, so no new fetuses are aborted to make vaccines. These cells are safe for use in vaccines.
-
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.
Sources
-
Package insert: https://www.fda.gov/media/119388/download
-
General:
-
Aluminum:
-
Aluminum hydroxide: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601013.html
-
Amino acid supplement:
-
Neomycin: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/neomycin-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20065027?p=1
-
PBS:
-
Polysorbate 20:
-
Formalin:
Last updated: Feb. 23 2023