Information about Adjuvants
A vaccine adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine to increase the body's immune response to the vaccine. In addition to an adjuvant improving the body's immune response, it often allows for smaller amounts of the inactivated virus or bacterial components (the parts of vaccines that prompt an immune response) to be used to make the vaccine.
Aluminum gels or aluminum salts are the only vaccine adjuvants currently licensed for use in the United States. Aluminum is one of the most common metals found in nature and is present in air, food, and water.
More information about adjuvants.