Abstract
Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical sciences understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences. In our opinion, the possibility that vaccine benefits may have been overrated and the risk of potential adverse effects underestimated, has not been rigorously evaluated in the medical and scientific community. We hope that the present paper will provide a framework for a much needed and long overdue assessment of this highly contentious medical issue.
Keywords: Aluminum adjuvants, adjuvant safety, autoimmunity, autism, Gulf War Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, macrophagic myofasciitis, neurotoxicity, seizures, Th2 immune response, vaccines
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants: Are they Safe?
Volume: 18 Issue: 17
Author(s): L. Tomljenovic and C. A. Shaw
Affiliation:
Keywords: Aluminum adjuvants, adjuvant safety, autoimmunity, autism, Gulf War Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, macrophagic myofasciitis, neurotoxicity, seizures, Th2 immune response, vaccines
Abstract: Aluminum is an experimentally demonstrated neurotoxin and the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant. Despite almost 90 years of widespread use of aluminum adjuvants, medical sciences understanding about their mechanisms of action is still remarkably poor. There is also a concerning scarcity of data on toxicology and pharmacokinetics of these compounds. In spite of this, the notion that aluminum in vaccines is safe appears to be widely accepted. Experimental research, however, clearly shows that aluminum adjuvants have a potential to induce serious immunological disorders in humans. In particular, aluminum in adjuvant form carries a risk for autoimmunity, long-term brain inflammation and associated neurological complications and may thus have profound and widespread adverse health consequences. In our opinion, the possibility that vaccine benefits may have been overrated and the risk of potential adverse effects underestimated, has not been rigorously evaluated in the medical and scientific community. We hope that the present paper will provide a framework for a much needed and long overdue assessment of this highly contentious medical issue.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Tomljenovic L. and A. Shaw C., Aluminum Vaccine Adjuvants: Are they Safe?, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 18 (17) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711795933740
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711795933740 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
Current advances in inherited cardiomyopathy
Describe in detail all novel advances in multimodality imaging related to inherited cardiomyopathy diagnosis and prognosis. Shed light to deeper phenotypic characterization. Acknowledge recent advances in genetics, genomics and precision medicineread more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Treatment for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: What have we Learned
from Animal Models?
Current Diabetes Reviews Cross-Reactivity in Cell-Mediated and IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity to Glucocorticoids
Current Pharmaceutical Design Mast Cell Disorders In Drug Hypersensitivity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Renin-Angiotensin System in Diabetes
Protein & Peptide Letters Review on Plants with Traditional Uses and Bio-activity against Hair Graying
Current Traditional Medicine A Systematic Approach to Assess the Burden of Drug Interactions in Adult Kidney Transplant Patients
Current Drug Safety Genetic Predictors of Drug Hypersensitivity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Pharmacologically Targeting the Primary Defect and Downstream Pathology in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Current Gene Therapy Inflammation and Coagulation in Urticaria and Angioedema
Current Vascular Pharmacology Spontaneous (Autoimmune) Chronic Urticaria in Children: Current Evidences, Diagnostic Pitfalls and Therapeutic Management
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery A Review of Current Knowledge of the Complement System and the Therapeutic Opportunities in Inflammatory Arthritis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Non-glycemic Adverse Effects of Insulin
Current Diabetes Reviews Adamantane – A Lead Structure for Drugs in Clinical Practice
Current Medicinal Chemistry Hypertension in Older Patients
Current Hypertension Reviews Omalizumab for Asthma: Indications, Off-Label Uses and Future Directions
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Clinical and Forensic Signs Related to Cocaine Abuse
Current Drug Abuse Reviews Engineered Protein Protease Inhibitors
Current Enzyme Inhibition Hypersensitivity to Lamotrigine and Nonaromatic Anticonvulsant Drugs: A Review
Current Pharmaceutical Design Contemporary Review of Drugs Used to Treat Obesity
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Safety of Systemic Biologic Agents in the Treatment of Non-malignant Skin Disorders
Current Drug Safety