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What Ingredients Are In A Flu Shot?

12/14/2020 | by

We hear about flu shots all the time, but have you ever wondered what the active ingredients inside of a flu shot are?

Flu shots are mostly made up of influenza vaccines. The vaccine itself is made up of genetic material from the virus against which it inoculates. This genetic material will either consist of a dead and inactive form of the virus, or a live, weakened variant of the virus. The latter exists in the form of a nasal spray.

Beyond the vaccine, there are several different “ingredients” in a flu shot.

  • Most vaccines are created inside of chicken eggs, so a vaccine might contain egg protein.
  • Some vaccines are created inside animal cells, so these vaccines will not contain egg protein.

There are some additives in flu shots that help preserve their strength and eliminate contaminants.

These include:

  • Thimerosal
  • Aluminum salts
  • Gelatin
  • Formaldehyde
  • Neomycin

Most of these ingredients can be found in a variety of household items, and are included, if at all, in very small quantities. Flu shots have been administered millions of times over decades, and are safe and effective. More information about these ingredients and why they are a part of vaccines can be found here.

In-Home Flu Vaccinations With Drip Hydration

If you want to obtain a flu shot but don’t want to leave your home and risk exposure to Covid-19 or the flu at a clinic, Drip Hydration brings safe, in-home flu vaccines to your home. We can also answer any questions you might have about the ingredients inside of your flu shot so you can feel confident about your vaccination.

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