Components of Vaccines

Updated April 6, 2023

Vaccines are made with a variety of ingredients including antigens, stabilizers, adjuvants, and preservatives; they may also contain residual by-products from the production process. Knowing precisely what is in each vaccine can be helpful when investigating adverse events following vaccination and for choosing alternative products for persons who have allergies or have had an adverse event known or suspected to be related to a vaccine component.

The following tables were prepared using information from the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR), the manufacturers’ package inserts and ImmunoFacts by JD Grabenstein. Since package inserts can change and there are sometimes small modifications in the components, the most recent package inserts (links available on the Package Inserts page) should be reviewed to verify specific information. Below are links to tables organized by Excipients, Allergens, and Vaccine Type.

Excipients Page

Allergens Page

Components of Vaccines by Vaccine Type

Vaccine TypeBrand Name
COVID-19Moderna, Pfizer BioNTech
DTaP, Hepatitis B, IPVPediarix
THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE AWAITING UPDATES  AND ARE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE: 
DTDT
DTaPDaptacel, Infanrix
DTaP and IPVKinrix, Quadracel
DTaP, IPV, HibPentacel
Hepatitis AHavrix, Vaqta
Hepatitis BEngerix-B, Heplisav-B, Recombivax HB
Hepatitis A and BTwinrix
HibActHIB, Hiberix, PedvaxHIB
HPVCervarix, Gardasil, Gardasil 9
Influenza: QuadAfluria, Fluarix, Flublok, Flucelvax, Flulaval, Fluzone
Influenza: TrivalentAfluria, Fluad, Flublock, Fluvirin
Influenza: OtherFluzone High-Dose, Fluzone Intradermal Quad
Japanese EncephalitisIxiaro, JE-VAX
MeningococcalBexsero, Menactra, Menomune-A/C/Y/W-135, Menveo, Trumenba
MMRMMR II
ProQuad
MMRV
PneumococcalPneumovax 23, Prevnar 13
PolioIPOL
RabiesImovax Rabies, RabAvert
RotavirusRotarix, RotaTeq
SmallpoxDryvax
TdTenivac, Td
TyphoidTyphim Vi, Vivotif
TdapAdacel, Boostrix
Varicella and ZosterVarivax, Shingrix, Zostavax