Antibiotics
are used during the manufacturing process phase to prevent bacterial
contamination of the tissue culture cells in which the viruses are grown (2).
Most are removed during the vaccine purification process; however, some traces
do remain in some vaccines (1). Some parents are worried that some vaccines may
be harmful since antibiotics can cause severe allergic reactions in children,
such as hives, swelling at the back of the throat, and low blood pressure (2). If
people who are allergic to antibiotics need to be closely observed after being
vaccinated so that any allergic reaction can be treated as quickly as possible
(2). Also, the antibiotics that are most likely to cause severe allergic
reactions such as penicillin, cephalosporin, and sulfa drugs are not contained
in vaccines. Antibiotics contained in vaccines are polymyxin B, streptomycin,
and gentamicin. Even then, the small amounts found in vaccines has yet to be
found to cause severe allergic reactions (1).
Resources:
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. (2014, November 5). Antibiotics.
Retrieved April 29, 2020, from https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-ingredients/antibiotics
- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Components of a Vaccine. Retrieved April 29, 2020, from https://vaccine-safety-training.org/vaccine-components.html
