Fact Check: Post Claiming This Vaccine Injects An Unsafe Amount of Aluminum To Infants Is Misleading
The post claiming Pediarix vaccine injects an unsafe amount of aluminum is misleading, The amount of aluminum in the recommended individual dose of a biological product shall not exceed 0.85 milligrams, Each dose of Pediarix does not include more than 0.85 milligrams (or 850 mcg) of aluminum.
- By: Urvashi Kapoor
- Published: Dec 3, 2020 at 01:49 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News): A post going viral on Facebook claims that the Pediarix vaccine injects an unsafe amount of aluminum into infants. When Vishvas News investigated the post, we found it to be false. Pediarix vaccine is already tested for safety. It is an approved vaccine for use since 2002.
Claim
The post shared on Facebook by a user named Hervey Alvin reads:
“One Pediarix vaccine contains 850 mcg of aluminum. ‘Safe’ limit to inject into a 2-month-old baby according to the FDA is 25 mcg,”
The archived version of the post can be checked here.
Investigation
Vishvas News investigated and found a report in the US Code of Federal Regulations for biological products. It states: “The amount of aluminum in the recommended individual dose of a biological product shall not exceed 0.85 milligrams.”
We further investigated and found the package insert for Pediarix on the website of FDA. In the report, it has been stated that each dose does not include more than 0.85 milligrams (or 850 mcg) of aluminum.
The risk to infants posed by the total aluminum exposure received from the entire recommended series of childhood vaccines over the first year of life is extremely low, according to a study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Why is aluminum in some vaccines?
As per FDA, aluminum salts are incorporated into some vaccine formulations as an adjuvant. An adjuvant is a substance added to some vaccines to enhance the immune response of vaccinated individuals.
According to the website of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the safety profile of PEDIARIX was established in 14 safety trials worldwide. It can be given from six weeks of age through six years.
Vishvas News spoke to Dr, Virendra Mittal who is a Pediatrician at Metro Mass Hospital, Jaipur. As per him, the Pediarix does not contain unsafe amount of aluminum. It is a tested and licensed vaccine.”
The post is shared on Facebook by a user named Hervey Elvin. When we scanned the profile of the user we found that he is based out of Texas.
Conclusion: The post claiming Pediarix vaccine injects an unsafe amount of aluminum is misleading, The amount of aluminum in the recommended individual dose of a biological product shall not exceed 0.85 milligrams, Each dose of Pediarix does not include more than 0.85 milligrams (or 850 mcg) of aluminum.
- Claim Review : Pediarix vaccine injects an unsafe amount of aluminum into infants
- Claimed By : Facebook user: Hervey Alvin
- Fact Check : Misleading
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