What have you already known about effects of vaccines? In fact, scientific evidence indicated good effects of vaccines as a cure for a wide range of diseases and conditions. On the other hand, there are hidden side effects of vaccines in infants and adults. Read this article on VKool site to discover more details of vaccines for human’s health.

Common Side Effects Of Vaccines In Infants And Adults

I. An Overview About Vaccine Influences On Human Health

1. Basic Information About Side Effects Of Vaccines

The negative effects of vaccines definitely weigh on users and parents of children. Though vaccines are studied and licensed to make sure they’re safe, most vaccines have their side effects, depending on different types of vaccines.

Most side effects of vaccines in infants and adults are mild, including redness, temporary pain, soreness, welling and flu-like symptoms. Particularly, these side effects of vaccines happen in 1/3 children who vaccinated. The side effects occur and end fast after the shot is done. After 1 or 2 days, the side effects themselves will go away. If the symptoms and signs persist, come and talk to your doctor and stop worse influences of the vaccines on your health.

2. Vaccine Ingredients & Toxicity

Vaccines can have side effects because ingredients in vaccines are toxic. Moreover, if the receivers get a large dose, they will be at higher risks of vaccine toxicity.

For instance, a normal person can take about 30 to 50 mg of aluminum per day, mainly from water, foods and medicines. Not all types of vaccines include aluminum, yet those typically contain trace amounts from 0.125 to 0.625 mg a dose.

3. Common Signs Of Side Effects Of Vaccines

a. Temporary pain and the fear of vaccination

Many people, especially children are so scared at receiving a vaccine. This may become a syndrome, called “needle phobia”. Whenever the sufferers see the vaccination needle, they feel painful and just want to go far away the needle or just want to cry out.

In fact, any vaccination can give the receivers temporary pain. In addition, because of their “needle phobia” condition, they get more painful feelings. They also feel anxious and distractions.

In short, if you get temporary pain after a vaccination short, this is a risk-free sign. You don’t need to get worried. In case, your vaccinated area bleeds or you see strange signs, you can meet your doctor.

b. Redness, soreness and swelling where the vaccination shot was given

You may have some reactions after receiving a vaccine, including soreness, redness, bruising and swelling in the area the vaccination shot was given. They are not serious side effects of vaccines in infants and adults. You just need to apply clean cool cloth to ease these discomforts.

c. Flu-like symptoms

Beside temporary pain, soreness, redness and swelling, you may have flu-like signs after getting a vaccine, including vomiting, fatigue, mild fever, appetite loss, upset stomach and headache attacks.

In general, most vaccines act by imitating infections, so they cause flu-like signs. This condition is not dangerous and it won’t cause illnesses. Moreover, it trains your body to have the right response. Normally, if the flu infects a vaccinated man, his body is able to fight it off.

d. Side effects from immunization

These cases are very rare, yet it does not mean that they cannot happen. The side effects from immunization includes anaphylaxis or serious allergic reactions such as trouble breathing, low blood pressure, rash, itching and swelling around face and mouth, pneumonia, high fever, stiffness or joint pain and seizures.

If you are having any of those serious negative effects, contact your doctor to handle these situations or you can go to the nearest local Emergency Department.

4. Child Vaccine Concerns

Many parents get worried about having their infants received specific types of vaccines or not if some serious side effects or severe reactions happened.

For instance, your child may get the risk of having severe reactions after he or she received Measles Mumps Rubella, diphtheria – tetanus – acellular pertussis vaccines. However, the ratio is less than 1/1,000,000.

5. Vaccines & Autism

Many recent studies have indicated concerns about vaccines and autism spectrum disorder.

Inversely, there are about over 20 scientific studies conducted in different countries have shown no links between ASDs and vaccines.

However, many parents have been still questioning about possible links between vaccination and the autism syndrome. One of reasons for that is timing. The parents of children with ASDs say that they noticed some signs of their children’s autism during the time the children had their 12 – 24 month vaccinations. The children had normal appearance before 1 – 2 years old. Then they lost the social skills language they had developed.

However, specialists in this field can identify signs and symptoms of autism in infants in the first few months of their lives, before their parents notice something strange or unusual. A series of recent scientific studies and researches investigated some connections between autism and different vaccines and there is no link was found.

6. Thimerosal Vaccine & Autism

Thimerosal, this is a mercury-containing vaccine, which has worried many parents because it is said to link to autism. However, recent scientific researches studies have indicated there is no link between autism and thimerosal. For instance, a study of over 1000 children in 2024 showed that receiving vaccines that contain thimerosal didn’t cause any harm. In that study, scientists conducted totally 42 neuropsychological tests to give that conclusion.

Thimerosal was used in limited amounts for over 50 years in multi-dose vials of vaccines (that hold more than one dose) in order to stop them from being contaminated by different bacteria. Like a precaution, thimerosal has been reduced and removed in some vaccines for infants and children under 6 years old. For babies and young children, a single-dose and no-preservative version of inactivated flu vaccine is available, too.

7. DTP Vaccine & SIDS

Many people are not sure about the link between the SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and the DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis) vaccine. This vaccine is for 2-month old babies that coincide with the time as the SIDS risk is highest.

In fact, studies on the link between the DTP vaccine and the SIDS in 1980s looked at an incidence of the SIDS deaths happened at the time of DTP vaccination. The scientists concluded that the deaths were at an equal level of the number that take place just by chance. In a nutshell, there isn’t any evidence linking the DTP vaccine and the SIDS.

8. MMR Vaccine & Autism

Recent studies believe that autism can be caused by different chronic developmental disorders that are often diagnosed in young toddlers. Many cases of autism are reported on higher numbers; and many critics insist the MMR vaccine is to blame. Some experts say that the rise might be attributed to more reports of autism cases by doctors. In 2001 and 2004 again, the IOM committee did not have any conflict of the interest with pharmaceutical organizations or companies that made vaccine recommendations. They studied a MMR vaccine and autism link and finally there was no evidence for such a single connection between MMR vaccine and autism.

9. Multiple Immunizations & Immune Disorders

As some immunizations can be given together, so many parents are usually concerned that multiple vaccines can trigger their health problems or their children’s linked to the immunity. Can they develop the risk of your infections? Can they cause the forming or development of type I diabetes or some allergic conditions such as asthma attacks? After looking at this issue, the IOM committee reported that there was no scientific evidence of the relationship between immune disorders and multiple immunizations as well as a risk of type I diabetes and infections. As for the link to other allergic conditions or asthma, there is not enough scientific evidence to reject or accept a connection between immune disorders and multiple vaccinations that are given together.

10. Hepatitis B Vaccines & Multiple Sclerosis

Next to some facts about side effects of vaccines in infants and adults, let’s get clear about the connection between hepatitis B vaccines and multiple sclerosis.

Though critics have indicated that hepatitis B immunizations can trigger multiple sclerosis, the IOM committee couldn’t find any scientific evidence for that theory. Another study also showed that there’s no scientific evidence that hepatitis B vaccine can cause nervous system problems such as Guillain Barre syndrome.

In general, most vaccines are made of different ingredients.  These ingredients can have hidden side effects, alone or in combination.

II. List Of Common Vaccines, Their Ingredients And Side Effects

I’ve shown you the facts of vaccines and their connections with some unharmful side effects, dangerous side effects of vaccines in infants and adults. Now, let’s have a closer look at more vaccines, their ingredients and side effects in infants and adults.

Below are the complete list of specific vaccines (by multiple manufacturers), their ingredients (partial list in 1 or more vaccines) and their side effects (including a partial list of events, reports and reactions) released by  “Vaccine Excipient and Media Summary, Excipients included in U.S. Vaccines, by Vaccine.” accessed in November 2024 and updated in September, 2024.

1. DTaP (Daptacel)

Ingredients: Formaldehyde, aluminum phosphate, 2-phenoxyethanol and glutaraldehyde

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Redness, swelling, vomiting, fever, loss of appetite, tiredness, seizures, brain damage (very rare) and serious allergic reaction

2. DTaP (Tripedia)

Ingredients: Ammonium sulfate, bovine extract, peptone, sodium phosphate, thimerosal, aluminum potassium sulfate, polysorbate 80, formaldehyde and gelatin

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Swelling, tiredness, fever, seizures, erythema, persistent crying, redness, vomiting, poor appetite and allergic reaction

3. DTaP (Infanrix)

Ingredients: bovine extract, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80, aluminum hydroxide, formaldehyde and glutaraldhyde

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Vomiting, redness, swelling, tiredness, pain, shock, fever, seizures, poor appetite and serious allergic reaction

4. DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix)

Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, calf serum, aluminum phosphate, lactalbumin hydrolysate, glutaraldhyde, formaldehyde, neomycin sulfate, polymyxin B, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80 and yeast protein

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Drowsiness, irritability, fainting, fever, joint pain, swelling, body aches, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, shock, respiratory tract infection and brachial neuritis

5. Hib (PedvaxHib)

Ingredients: sodium chloride and aluminum hydroxyl-phosphate sulfate

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Fever, erythema, diarrhea, tenderness, irritability, swelling, poor appetite, seizures, sleepiness and vomiting

6. Hib/Hep B (Comvax)

Ingredients: Amorphous aluminum hydroxyl-phosphate sulfate, dextrose, amino acids, formaldehyde, mineral salts, hemin chloride, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, sodium borate, potassium aluminum sulfate, soy peptone and yeast protein

Side effects of this vaccine in infants and adults: Extreme drowsiness, irritability, fainting, fever, diarrhea, swelling, poor appetite, joint pain, mild vomiting, body aches, ear infections, seizures, respiratory infection, anaphylaxis and yeast infection

7. Hib Vaccine (ACTHib)

Ingredients: Ammonium sulfate, sucrose, formaldehyde and thimerosal

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Fever, erythema, diarrhea, tenderness, irritability, swelling, loss of appetite, seizures, vomiting and sleepiness

8. Hepatitis A Vaccine (Vaqta)

Ingredients: Amorphous aluminum hydroxyl-phosphate sulfate, formaldehyde, bovine albumin/serum, MRC-5 cellular protein sodium chloride and sodium borate

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Fever, drowsiness, erythema, loss of appetite, allergic reaction (very rare) and irritability

9. Hepatitis A Vaccine (Havrix)

Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, formalin, neomycin sulfate, polsorbate 20, amino acid supplement, MRC-5 cellular protein and phosphate buffers

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Fever, loss of appetite, allergic reaction (very rare), drowsiness and irritability.

10. Hepatitis B Vaccine (Engerix-B)

Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, yeast protein, phosphate buffers, sodium chloride, sodium-dihydrogen-phosphate-dehydrate

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Fever, hypotension, insomnia, abdominal pain, drowsiness, stiffness, loss of appetite and irritability.

11. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Cervarix)

Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, lipids, amino acids, mineral salts, type 16 viral protein L1, sodium chloride, vitamins, type 18 viral protein L1 and sodium-dihydrogen-phosphate-dehydrate

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Pain, swelling, redness, fatigue, fever, headache, gastrointestinal symptoms, myalgia, arthralgia and urticaria

12. Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombivax)

Ingedients: Amino acids, amorphous-aluminum-hydroxyphosphate-sulfate, dextrose, mineral salts, formaldehyde, potassium aluminum sulfate, yeast protein and soy peptone

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Soreness, diarrhea, mild fever, fatigue, weakness, respiratory illness, loss of appetite and insomnia

13. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (Gardasil)

Ingredients: Amino acids, carbohydrates, mineral salts, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sodium borate, vitamins, sodium chloride, yeast protein and amorphous-aluminum-hydroxy-phosphate-sulfate

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Headache, bleeding, weakness, easy bruising, fever, chills, nausea, body aches, vomiting, erythema, insomnia and pruritus.

14. Influenza Vaccine (Fluarix)

Ingredients: Formaldehyde, hydrocortisone, gentamicin sulfate, octoxynol-10, polysorbate 80, a-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate, sodium deoxycholate and ovalbumin.

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Pain, redness, swelling, muscle aches, fatigue, irritability, headache, loss of appetite, fever, drowsiness, shivering and arthralgia.

15. Influenza Vaccine (Afluria)

Ingredients: Beta-propiolactone, dibasic sodium phosphate, calcium chloride, egg protein, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, monobasic sodium phosphate, polymyxin B, neomycin sulfate, potassium chloride, thimerosal and sodium taurodeoxychoalate

Side effects of vaccine in infants and adults: Tenderness, redness, pain, swelling, headache, muscle aches, malaise, irritability, fever, rhinitis, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, loss of appetite, muscle aches, sore throat and seizures

16. Influenza Vaccine (Flulaval)

Ingredients: Formaldehyde, polysorbate 80, thimerosal, a-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate, sodium deoxycholate and ovalbumin

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Pain, fatigue, swelling, muscle aches, redness, irritability, drowsiness, malaise, cough, chest tightness, loss of appetite, chills, sore throat, headache and arthralgia

17. Influenza Vaccine (Fluvirin)

Ingredients: Nonylphenol ethoxylate, beta-propiolactone, egg protein, thimerosal, thimerosal, neomycin and polymyxin

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Hemorrhage, pain, ecchymosis, fatigue, malaise, shivering, fever, swelling, inflammation, pruritus, edema, myalgiaa, induration, sweating and erythema

18. Influenza Vaccine (FluMist)

Ingredients: Ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic-acid, arginine, egg protein, gentamicin sulfate, sucrose, dibasic potassium phosphate, monobasic-potassium-phosphate-monosodium-glutamate, ovalbumin and hydrolyzed porcine gelatin

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, wheezing, sore throat, decreased appetite, lethargy, irritability, headache, chills, cough and muscle ache

19. Meningococcal Vaccine (Menactra)

Ingredients: Formaldehyde, phosphate buffers and ammonium sulfate

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Tenderness, swelling, abnormal crying, appetite loss, fever, induration, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, malaise, fatigue, arthralgia, seizures, erythema, irritability, drowsiness and rash

20. Influenza Vaccine (Fluzone)

Ingredients: Egg protein, gelatin, octylphenol ethoxylate, formaldehyde, sodium phosphate and thimerosal

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Tenderness, induration, ecchymosis, erythema, swelling, vomiting, fever, abnormal crying, drowsiness, irritability, pruritus, pain, headache, myalgia, loss of appetite and malaise

21. Meningococcal Vaccine (Menomune)

Ingredients: Lactose, thimerosal and sodium chloride

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Pain, erythema, tenderness, induration, headaches, chills, fever and malaise

22. Meningococcal Vaccine (Menveo)

Ingedients: Amino acids, yeast extract and formaldehyde

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Headache, erythema, irritability, tenderness, sleepiness, pain, change in eating habits, persistent crying, vomiting, diarrhea, myalgia, nausea, induration and malaise

23. MMR Vaccine (MMR-II)

Ingredients: Amino acids, glutamate, neomycin, sorbitol, vitamins, sucrose, fetal bovine serum, hydrolyzed gelatin, sodium phosphate, recombinant-human-serum-albumin and sodium chloride

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Fever, malaise, diarrhea, vomiting, parotitis, nausea, edema, thrombocytopenia, myalgia, arthritis conditions, panniculitis, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, encephalopathy, seizures, polyneuritis, ataxia, paresthesia, irritability, arthralgia, dizziness and headache

24. MMRV Vaccine (ProQuad)

Ingredients: Bovine calf serum, dibasic sodium phosphate, dibasic potassium phosphate, human albumin, hydrolyzed gelatin, human serum albumin dibasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, monosodium L-glutamate, MRC-5 cellular protein, sodium bicarbonate, neomycin, sorbitol, potassium chloride and sucrose

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Pain, tenderness, upper respiratory infection, ecchymosis, swelling, irritability, seizures, fever, measles-like rash, rhinorrhea, erythema, viral exanthema, soreness and diarrhea

25. Pneumococcal Vaccine (Pneumovax)

Ingredients: Phenol and bovine protein

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Pain, swelling, myalgia, soreness, induration, headache, fatigue, erythema, asthenia, chills, tenderness, upper respiratory infection, tremors, chest pain, stiffness, depression and excess sweating

26. Polio Vaccine (IPV – Ipol)

Ingredients: Calf serum protein, neomycin, formaldehyde, 2-phenoxyethanol, polymyxin B and streptomycin

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Erythema, fever, sleepiness, irritability, induration, pain, persistent crying, fussiness, swelling, loss of appetite, tenderness and vomiting

27. Rotavirus Vaccine (RotaTeq)

Ingedients: Fetal bovine serum, sodium hydroxide, sucrose, polysorbate 80, sodium citrate and sodium phosphate-monobasic-monohydrate

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Diarrhea, otitis media, nasopharyngitis, bronchiolitis, vomiting, irritability, bronchospasm, gastroenteritis, fever, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, intussusception, vomiting, allergic reactions, bad diarrhea, blood in the stool and severe stomach pain

28. Pneumococcal Vaccine (Prevnar)

Ingredients: Aluminum phosphate, casamino acid, ammonium sulfate, succinate buffer, polysorbate 80 and yeast

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Irritability, increased sleep, decreased appetite, decreased sleep, fever, tenderness, redness, fatigue, pain, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, swelling, chills, rash, limitation of arm movement, bronchiolitis, pneumonia and gastroenteritis

29. Tdap Vaccine (Adacel)

Ingredients: Aluminum phosphate, phenoxyethanol, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-phenoxyethanol, dimethyl beta-cyclodextrin, casamino acids and ammonium sulfate

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Pain, chills, Guillain Barré syndrome, headache, fever, erythema, body aches, swelling, tiredness, sore joints, diarrhea, rash, hypotension, brachial neuritis, vomiting, lymph node swelling, edema, muscle spasms, nausea and muscle weakness

30. Rotavirus Vaccine (Rotarix)

Ingredients: Amino acids, sucrose sodiumchloride, sorbitol, potassium chloride, dextran, sodium phosphate, magnesium sulfate, ferric III nitrate, sodium pyruvate, D-glucose, xanthan, L-cystine, L-tyrosine, L-glutamine, sodium hydrogenocarbonate, phenol red, calcium carbonate, PCV-1, sterile water, calcium chloride and concentrated vitamin solution

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Fussiness, runny nose, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite, idiopathic Kawasaki disease, irritability, intussusception, vomiting, severe stomach pain, bad diarrhea, thrombocytopenic purpura, blood in the stool and cough

31. Tdap Vaccine (Boostrix)

Ingredients: Aluminum hydroxide, sodium chloride, bovine extract, formaldehyde, polysorbate 80 and glutaraldehyde

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Pain, redness, swelling fever, headache, nausea, tiredness, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, chills, sore joints, body aches, rash, allergic reaction and gastrointestinal symptoms

32. Varicella Vaccine (Varivax)

Ingredients: Dibasic sodium phosphate, EDTA, fetal bovine serum, glutamate, gelatin, monobasic sodium phosphate, monobasic potassium phosphate, monosodium L-glutamate, cellular protein, MRC-5 DNA, neomycin, phosphate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and sucrose

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Headache, fatigue, Varicella-like rash, cough, disturbed sleep, myalgia, nausea, chills, diarrhea, eye complaints, itching, poor appetite, vomiting, rashes, constipation, respiratory illness, canker sore, bacterial infections and seizures

33. Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine (Zostavax)

Ingredients: Bovine calf serum, dibasic sodium phosphate, sodium chloride, hydrolyzed porcine gelatin, MRC-5 DNA, cellular protein, monosodium L-glutamate, monobasic potassium phosphate, potassium chloride, neomycin and sucrose

Side effects of vaccines in infants and adults: Redness, swelling, itching, headache, rash, soreness, erythema, warmth, pruritis, hematoma and induration

Bottom Line:

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