Excipients

Inactive ingredients in vaccines that serve various functions including stabilization, preservation, and manufacturing.

What Are Excipients?

Excipients are inactive substances used as carriers for the active ingredients in vaccines. They serve important functions like stabilizing the vaccine, ensuring pH balance, and preserving the product. Excipients make up the majority of most vaccine formulations by volume.

Common Excipients by Function

  • Stabilizers: Sucrose, lactose, gelatin, human serum albumin - protect vaccine components during storage
  • Preservatives: Thimerosal (in some multi-dose vials), 2-phenoxyethanol
  • pH Buffers: Phosphate buffers, tris buffer - maintain consistent acidity
  • Residual Inactivating Agents: Formaldehyde (used to inactivate toxins/viruses)
  • Antibiotics: Neomycin (in some vaccines to prevent bacterial growth)

Sources

Related Pages

Vaccine Ingredients