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Menactra

This is a quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine

Ingredients:

Active ingredients:

Sugars from 4 serotypes of meningococcal bacteria (A, C, W, and Y) are conjugated (attached) to tetanus toxoid (not toxin) in order to improve the immune response to the sugar.

Inactive ingredients:
Ingredients based on a 0.5mL dose

Relevant Terms

  • 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. 

  • Conjugate: An antigen is attached to a protein in order to improve the protection the vaccine provides.

  • Isotonic: describes a mixture with the same concentration of salts and other molecules as the fluids in the body

  • Quadrivalent: Protects against four different serotypes of the pathogen (in this case, Neisseria meningitidis)

  • Serotype: a group of strains within a species that share a particular type of surface structure

  • 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

Last updated: Feb. 23, 2023

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