Shingrix

This is one of the shingles vaccines

Ingredients:

Active ingredients:

gE antigen: a purified glycoprotein (a protein with a sugar attached to it) from the surface of varicella-zoster virus (the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles). 

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This vaccine also contains an adjuvant called AS01b, which contains 2 ingredients: MPL and QS-21. MPL is derived from a species of bacteria called Salmonella minnesota, and QS-21 is derived from the soap bark tree.

Inactive ingredients:

Salts: help maintain the stability and pH of the vaccine

Carbohydrates (sugars): normally used as stabilizers in vaccines

Lipids (fats): lipids do not dissolve in water, so they are used to create a protective coating around the active ingredient. This coating is also called a liposome.

Other Stabilizers:

 

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.

  • Adjuvant: a compound added to some vaccines to strengthen the immune response

  • Carbohydrates: Another name for sugars

  • Glycoprotein: a protein with a sugar attached to it

  • pH: This is 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