Contents of immunizing agents authorized for use in Canada: Canadian Immunization Guide

For health professionals

Last partial content update (see Table of Updates): February 2023

This chapter was updated to align with changes made to:

Canadian Immunization Guide Chapter on Influenza and Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2022-2023
COVID-19 Vaccine chapter in Part 4
Pneumococcal Vaccine chapter in Part 4
The section on "Adjuvants" was updated to include two additional adjuvants: AS03 and Matrix M adjuvant used in COVIFENZ^® AND NUVAXOVID^TM COVID-19 vaccines, respectively

Last complete chapter revision (see Table of Updates): April 2017

Introduction

The following tables provide a comprehensive list of contents of immunizing agents authorized in Canada. Table 1 lists contents of active vaccines and Table 2 lists contents of passive immunizing agents. Vaccine providers should consult the product label, product leaflet, or product monograph for current product information. Manufacturers provide evidence of vaccine safety and efficacy and receive authorization for the immunizing agent only when it is used in accordance with the product monograph available through Health Canada's Drug Product Database. Information about the vaccine manufacturer/distributor is available in vaccine-specific chapters in Part 4. For more information about immunoglobulins, refer to Basic Immunology and Vaccinology in Part 1.

Contents of immunizing agents

In addition to the active component (antigen or instructions for the antigen in case of vaccines or antibody in case of immunoglobulins), immunizing agents may contain additional ingredients such as adjuvants, preservatives, additives, and traces of other substances.

Adjuvants

An adjuvant is a substance that is added to a vaccine to enhance the resulting immune response and to extend the duration of B and T cell activation. An adjuvant allows a reduction in the amount of antigen per dose or the total number of doses needed to achieve immunity, and helps to improve the immune response in individuals with some degree of immune suppression (for example, the elderly). The adjuvants used in vaccines currently marketed in Canada are:

aluminum salts (aluminum hydroxide [Al(OH)₃], aluminum phosphate [AlPO4], or amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate [AAHS])
AS01B (3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A [MPL], Quillaja saponaria Molina, fraction 21 [QS-21], cholesterol, dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine [DOPC], disodium phosphate anhydrous, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, water for injection)
AS03 (DL-alpha-tocopherol, squalene, polysorbate 80, phosphate buffered saline)
AS04 (3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A adsorbed onto aluminum [as hydroxide salt])
Matrix-M adjuvant (cholesterol, disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, phosphatidylcholine, potassium chloride, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride)
MF59 (oil-in-water emulsion composed of squalene as the oil phase, stabilized with the surfactants polysorbate 80 and sorbitan trioleate, in citrate buffer).

Preservatives

Chemicals (for example, thimerosal, phenol, 2-phenoxyethanol) may be added to vaccines to prevent serious infections which may result from bacterial or fungal contamination of the vaccine. Most vaccines authorized for use in Canada do not contain thimerosal.

Other contents of immunizing agents

Other substances that may be found in immunizing agents include:

Minute amounts of chemicals that are used during the production process, such as for the growth or purification of specific antigens or the inactivation of toxins. For example, antibiotics that prevent contamination during viral cell culture; egg or yeast proteins glycerol, serum, amino acids and enzymes that are needed for the growth of bacteria and viruses; and formaldehyde that is used to inactivate viruses and protein toxins.
Small amounts of chemicals that support product stability. For example, additives such as potassium or sodium salts, lactose, and polysorbate help control product acidity (pH) and maintain the quality of vaccine antigens.

Table 1: Types and contents of vaccines authorized for use in Canada
Brand name	Route	Vaccine type (live; non-live)	Immunogen	Adjuvant	Preservative	Potential allergens ^{Footnote 1}	Other materials	Abbreviation
A dash [ - ] indicates that there are no materials under that category in the product.
Act-HIB^®	IM	non-live	Hib	-	-	Tetanus toxoid carrier protein	Sodium chloride Sucrose Trometamol	Hib
ADACEL^®	IM	non-live	T d ap	AlPO₄	PE	-	Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde	Tdap
ADACEL^® -POLIO	IM	non-live	T d ap IPV	AlPO₄	PE	Neomycin Polymyxin B Streptomycin Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Bovine serum albumin Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde Water for injection	Tdap-IPV
AFLURIA^® TETRA	IM	non-live	Inf	-	Tm^{Footnote 3}	Egg protein Neomycin sulfate Polymixin B sulfate Thimerosal ^{Footnote 3}	Beta-propiolactone Calcium chloride Dibasic sodium phosphate (anhydrous) Hydrocortisone Monobasic potassium phosphate Monobasic sodium phosphate Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Sodium taurodeoxycholate Sucrose Water for injection	IIV4-SD
AVAXIM^®	IM	non-live	HA	Al(OH)₃	PE	Neomycin Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Ethanol anhydrous Medium 199 Hanks Water for injection Formaldehyde	HA
BEXSERO^®	IM	non-live	Men B	Al(OH)₃	-	Latex in tip cap of syringe Kanamycin (Residue)	Histidine Sodium chloride Sucrose Water for injections	4CMenB
BOOSTRIX^®	IM	non-live	T d ap	Al(OH)₃	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Formaldehyde Glycine Sodium chloride Water for injection	Tdap
BOOSTRIX^® -POLIO	IM	non-live	T d ap IPV	Al(OH)₃, AlPO₄	-	Neomycin Polymyxin B	Formaldehyde Medium 199 Sodium chloride Water for injection	Tdap-IPV
CERVARIX^®	IM	non-live	HPV	AS04	-	Latex in plunger stopper of pre-filled syringe	Hydrated sodium chloride Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate Water for injection	HPV2
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) - Gray Vial Cap and Label Border	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	-	-	Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) ^{Footnote 2} Tromethamine Tromethamine (hydrochloride)	1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl)bis (hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) Cholesterol Sodium chloride ^{Footnote 4} Sucrose Water for injection	COVID-19
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) - Orange Vial Cap and Label Border
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) –Maroon Vial Cap and Label Border
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) & Omicron BA.4/BA.5 – Gray Vial Cap and Label Border
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) & Omicron BA.4/BA.5 – Orange Vial Cap and Label Border
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) & Omicron BA.1
COMIRNATY ^® (Original) - Purple Vial Cap and Label Border	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	-	-	Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) ^{Footnote 2}	1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide ALC-0315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl) azanediyl)bis (hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate) Cholesterol Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate Monobasic potassium phosphate Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Sucrose Water for injection	COVID-19
COVIFENZ^® COVID-19 Vaccine	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	AS03	-	Carbenicillin Kanamycin Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) ^{Footnote 2} Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	DL-alpha-tocopherol Phosphate buffered saline Potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous Sodium chloride Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous Squalene Water for injection	COVID-19
DUKORAL^®	Oral	non-live	Chol Ecol	-	-	-	Citric acid Disodium hydrogen phosphate Raspberry flavor Saccharin sodium Sodium carbonate Sodium citrate Sodium chloride Sodium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium hydrogen carbonate Water for injection	Chol-Ecol-O
ENGERIX^® -B	IM	non-live	HB	Al(OH)₃	-	Yeast protein	Disodium phosphate dihydrate Sodium chloride Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate Water for injection	HB
ENGERIX^® -B Pediatric dose	IM	non-live	HB	Al(OH)₃	-	Yeast protein		HB
ERVEBO^®	IM	live	ZEBOV	-	-	Benzonase	Hydrochloric acid Recombinant human serum albumin Sodium hydroxide Trace amounts of rice protein Trometamol buffer Water for injection	EZV
FLUAD^®	IM	non-live	Inf	MF59	-	Egg protein Kanamycin Neomycin Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Calcium chloride dehydrate Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide Citric acid Disodium phosphate dihydrate Formaldehyde Hydrocortisone Magnesium chloride hexahydrate Potassium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium citrate Sorbitan trioleate Squalene Water for injection	IIV3-Adj
FLUAD^®Pediatric	IM	non-live	Inf	MF59	-			IIV3-Adj
FLUCELVAX^® QUAD	IM	non-live	Inf	-	Tm ^{Footnote 3}	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2} Thimerosal ^{Footnote 3}	Beta-propiolactone Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide Disodium phosphate dihydrate Magnesium chloride hexahydrate Potassium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Water for injections	IIV4-cc
FLULAVAL TETRA	IM	non-live	Inf	-	Tm ^{Footnote 3}	Egg protein Thimerosal ^{Footnote 3} Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	α-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate Disodium hydrogen phosphate heptahydrate Ethanol Formaldehyde Potasium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium deoxycholate Sucrose Water for injection	IIV4-SD
FLUMIST^® QUADRIVALENT	IN	live	Inf	-	-	Arginine hydrochloride Egg protein Gelatin hydrolysate Gentamicin	Dibasic potassium phosphate Monosodium glutamate Monobasic potassium phosphate Sucrose	LAIV4
FLUVIRAL^®	IM	non-live	Inf	-	Tm ^{Footnote 3}	Egg protein Thimerosal ^{Footnote 3} Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	α-tocopheryl hydrogen succinate Disodium hydrogen phosphate heptahydrate Ethanol Formaldehyde Potassium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium deoxycholate Sucrose Water for injection	IIV3-SD
FLUZONE^® Quadrivalent	IM	non-live	Inf	-	Tm ^{Footnote 3}	Egg protein Thimerosal ^{Footnote 3}	Formaldehyde Isotonic sodium chloride solution Sodium phosphate Triton^® X-100	IIV4-SD
GARDASIL^® 9	IM	non-live	HPV	AAHS	-	Yeast protein Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	L-histidine Sodium borate Sodium chloride	HPV9
HAVRIX^®	IM	non-live	HA	Al(OH)₃	-	Neomycin	Amino acids Disodium phosphate Formaldehyde Monopotassium phosphate Polysorbate 20 Potassium chloride Sodium chloride Water for injection	HA
HAVRIX^® 720 JUNIOR	IM	non-live	HA	Al(OH)₃	-	Neomycin		HA
HIBERIX^®	IM	non-live	Hib	-	-	Tetanus toxoid carrier protein	Lactose Sodium chloride	Hib
IMOVAX^® Polio	SC	non-live	IPV	-	PE	Neomycin Polymyxin B Streptomycin Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Bovine serum Formaldehyde Medium 199 Hanks	IPV
IMOVAX^® Rabies	IM	non-live	Rab	-	-	Neomycin Phenol red	Human albumin Water for injection	HDCV
IMVAMUNE ^® ^{Footnote 5}	SC	live	Vaccinia	-	-	Benzonase Bromobutyl rubber stopper Ciprofloxacin Gentamicin Residual host (egg) cell DNA and protein Trometamol	Hydrochloric acid Sodium chloride Tris-hydroxymethyl-amino methane Water for injection	SMV
INFANRIX hexa^®	IM	non-live	D T aP HB IPV Hib	Al(OH)₃, AlPO₄	-	Butyl in stopper Neomycin Polymyxin B	Lactose M199 Sodium chloride Water for injection	DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib
INFANRIX^® -IPV/Hib	IM	non-live	D T aP IPV Hib	Al(OH)₃	-	Neomycin sulphate Polymixin sulphate Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Lactose Sodium chloride M199 Water for injection Residual formaldehyde Potassium chloride Disodium phosphate Monopotassium phosphate Glycine	DTaP-IPV-Hib
INFLUVAC^® TETRA	SC/IM	non-live	Inf	-	-	Chicken protein Egg Material Gentamicin sulphate Neomycin sulphate ^{Footnote 6} Polymyxin B sulphate ^{Footnote 6} Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Calcium chloride dihydrate Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide Disodium phosphate dihydrate Formaldehyde Hydrocortisone Magnesium chloride hexahydrate Potassium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium citrate Sucrose Tylosine tartrate Water for injection	IIV4-SD
IXIARO^®	IM	non-live	JE	Al(OH)₃	-	-	Disodium hydrogen phosphate Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Water for injection	JE
JCOVDEN^TM COVID-19 VACCINE	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	-	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HBCD) Citric acid monohydrate Ethanol Hydrochloric acid Sodium chloride Sodium hydroxide Trisodium citrate dihydrate Water for injection	COVID-19
Menactra^®	IM	non-live	Men	-	-	Diphtheria toxoid carrier protein	Sodium chloride Sodium phosphate dibasic (anhydrous) Sodium phosphate monobasic Water for injection	Men-C-ACYW-DT
MENJUGATE Liquid	IM	non-live	Men	Al(OH)₃	-	Diphtheria CRM197 toxoid carrier protein Bromobutyl rubber stopper	Histidine Sodium chloride Water for injection	Men-C-C-CRM
MenQuadfi^TM	IM	non-live	Men	-	-	Tetanus toxoid carrier protein	Sodium acetate Sodium chloride Sterile water for injection	Men-C-ACYW-TT
Menveo^TM	IM	non-live	Men	-	-	Diphtheria CRM₁₉₇ toxoid carrier protein	Disodium hydrogen phosphate bihydrate Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate Sucrose Water for injection	Men-C-ACYW-CRM
M-M-R^® II	SC	live	Meas Mumps Rub	-	-	Neomycin Phenol red Porcine gelatin Residual components of chick embryo cell cultures	Fetal bovine serum Medium 199 with Hank's salts Minimum essential medium (Eagle) Monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate Potassium phosphate dibasic (anhydrous) Potassium phosphate monobasic Recombinant human albumin Sodium bicarbonate Sodium phosphate dibasic (anhydrous) Sodium phosphate monobasic Sorbitol Sucrose Water for injection	MMR
NeisVac-C^® Vaccine	IM	non-live	Men	Al(OH)₃	-	Tetanus toxoid carrier protein	Sodium chloride	Men-C-C-TT
NIMENRIX^®	IM	non-live	Men	-	-	Tetanus toxoid carrier protein	Sucrose Trometamol Sodium chloride Water for injection	Men-C-ACYW-TT
NUVAXOVID^TM COVID-19 Vaccine	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	Matrix-M	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Cholesterol Disodium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate Disodium hydrogen phosphate heptahydrate Hydrochloric acid Phosphatidylcholine Potassium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate Sodium hydroxide Water for Injection	COVID-19
PEDIACEL^®	IM	non-live	D T aP IPV Hib	AlPO₄	PE	Neomycin Polymyxin B Streptomycin Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Bovine serum albumin Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde	DTaP-IPV-Hib
PNEUMOVAX^® 23	SC/IM	non-live	Pneu	-	P	-	Sodium chloride Water for injection	Pneu-P-23
PREHEVBRIO^TM	IM	non-live	HB	Al(OH)₃	-	-	Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate Hydrochloric acid Potassium chloride Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium chloride Sodium hydroxide Water for injection	HB
Prevnar^® 13	IM	non-live	Pneu	AlPO₄	-	Diphtheria CRM197 toxoid carrier protein Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Sodium chloride Succinic acid Water for injection	Pneu-C-13
PREVNAR 20^TM	IM	non-live	Pneu	AlPO₄	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Sodium chloride Succinic acid Water for injection	Pneu-C-20
PRIORIX^®	SC/IM	live	Meas Mumps Rub	-	-	Egg protein Neomycin	Amino acids Lactose Mannitol Sorbitol Water for injection	MMR
PRIORIX-TETRA	SC/IM	live	Meas Mumps Rub Var	-	-	Egg protein Neomycin	Amino Acids Lactose Mannitol Sorbitol Water for injection	MMRV
PROQUAD^TM	SC	live	Meas Mumps Rub Var	-	-	Gelatin Neomycin Chicken protein	Sucrose Urea Sodium chloride Sorbitol Monosodium L-glutamate Sodium phosphate Human albumin	MMRV
QUADRACEL^®	IM	non-live	D T aP IPV	AlPO₄	PE	Neomycin Polymyxin B Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Bovine serum albumin Formaldehyde Glutaraldehyde	DTaP-IPV
RabAvert^®	IM	non-live	Rab	-	-	Amphotericin B Chicken protein Chlortetracycline Neomycin Polygeline (gelatin) Egg protein	Human serum albumin	PCECV
RECOMBIVAX HB^®	IM	non-live	HB	AAHS	-	Latex in vial stopper Yeast protein	Formaldehyde Sodium borate Sodium chloride Water for injection	HB
ROTARIX^®	Oral	live	Rot	-	-	-	Disodium adipate DNA fragments from porcine circovirus 1 Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium Sterile water Sucrose	Rot-1
RotaTeq^®	Oral	live	Rot	-	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	DNA fragments from porcine circoviruses 1 and 2 Fetal bovine serum Residual protein from cell culture Sodium citrate dihydrate Sodium hydroxide Sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate Sucrose	Rot-5
SHINGRIX	IM	non-live	VZVgE	AS01_B	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Dipotassium phosphate Sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate Sucrose Water for injection	RZV
SPIKEVAX^TM Elasomeran mRNA vaccine – Red plastic cap (0.20 mg/mL)	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	-	-	Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) ^{Footnote 2} Trometamol Trometamol (hydrochloride)	Acetic acid Cholesterol DSPC (1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) Lipid SM-102 PEG2000-DMG (1,2-dimyristoyl-racglycerol, methoxy-polyethyleneglycol) Sodium acetate trihydrate Sucrose Water for injection	COVID-19
SPIKEVAX^TM Elasomeran mRNA vaccine – Royal blue plastic cap (0.10 mg/mL)
SPIKEVAX^TM Bivalent (Original / Omicron BA.1)
SPIKEVAX Bivalent (Original / Omicron BA.4/5)
Supemtek^TM	IM	non-live	Inf	-	-	Polysorbate 20 ^{Footnote 2}	Baculovirus and cellular DNA Baculovirus and Spodoptera frugiperda cell proteins Dibasic sodium phosphate Monobasic sodium phosphate Sodium chloride Triton X-100	RIV4
SYNFLORIX^®	IM	non-live	Pneu	AlPO₄	-	Latex in syringe components Diphtheria toxoid carrier protein Tetanus toxoid carrier protein Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D carrier protein	Sodium chloride Water for injection	Pneu-C-10
Td ADSORBED	IM	non-live	T d	AlPO₄	PE	-	Formaldehyde Sodium chloride Water for injection	Td
TRUMENBA^®	IM	non-live	Men B	AlPO₄	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Histidine Sodium chloride Water for injection	MenBf-HBP
TWINRIX^®	IM	non-live	HA HB	Al(OH)₃, AlPO₄	-	Neomycin Yeast protein	Amino acids Formaldehyde Polysorbate 20 Sodium chloride Water for injection	HAHB
TWINRIX^® Junior	IM	non-live	HA HB	Al(OH)₃, AlPO₄	-	Neomycin Yeast protein		HAHB
TYPHIM Vi^®	IM	non-live	Typh	-	P	-	Isotonic buffer solution	Typh-I
VAQTA^®	IM	non-live	HA	AAHS	-	Latex in vial stopper Neomycin	Bovine albumin DNA Formaldehyde Residual protein from cell culture Sodium borate Sodium chloride Water for injection	HA
VARILRIX^®	SC	live	Var	-	-	Neomycin	Amino acids Human albumin Lactose Polyalcohols Water for injection	Var
VARIVAX^® III	SC	live	Var	-	-	Neomycin Porcine gelatin	Fetal bovine serum Monosodium L-glutamate Potassium chloride Potassium phosphate monobasic Residual protein from cell culture Sodium chloride Sodium phosphate dibasic Sucrose Urea Water for injection	Var
VAXNEUVANCE ^{^®}	IM	non-live	Pneu	AlPO₄	-	Polysorbate 20 ^{Footnote 2}	L-histidine Sodium chloride Water for injection	Pneu-C-15
VAXZEVRIA^TM	IM	non-live	SARS-CoV-2	-	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 2}	Disodium edetate dihydrate (EDTA) Ethanol L-Histidine L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate Magnesium chloride hexahydrate Sodium chloride Sucrose Water for injection	COVID-19
Vivotif^®	Oral	live	Typh	-	-	Gelatin	Amino acid mixture Ascorbic acid Dibutyl phthalate Diethyl phthalate Erythrosine FD+C red 3 Ethylene glycol Hydroxypropylcellulose-phthalate Lactose Magnesium stearate Red iron oxide Sucrose Titanium dioxide Yellow iron oxide	Typh-O
YF-VAX^®	SC	live	YF	-	-	Chicken protein Egg protein Gelatin Latex in stopper of diluent vial	Sodium chloride Sorbitol	YF
Footnote 1 Any component in a vaccine may be a potential allergen. This table identifies most common allergens; adjuvants and preservatives may be potential allergens, but this is extremely rare. Return to footnote 1 referrer Footnote 2 There is a potential of cross-reactive hypersensitivity between PEG and polysorbates. Therefore, individuals who are being administered a product that includes any one of these components as ingredients should be asked about any allergic reactions to either component. Return to footnote 2 referrer Footnote 3 Multi-dose presentation only. Return to footnote 3 referrer Footnote 4 Not present in COMIRNATY^® (Original) and COMIRNATY^® Original & Omicron BA.4/BA.5 vials with gray cap and label border (for 12 years of age and older). Return to footnote 4 referrer Footnote 5 IMVAMUNE^® is not available for general use. Return to footnote 5 referrer Footnote 6 Only used if gentamicin cannot be used. If not used, not present. Return to footnote 6 referrer

Abbreviations

Route-

ID: intradermal
IM: intramuscular
IN: intranasal
SC: subcutaneous

Immunogen-

aP: acellular pertussis
ap: acellular pertussis (reduced)
BCG: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
Chol: cholera
D: diphtheria
d: diphtheria (reduced)
Ecol: enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b
HA: hepatitis A
HB: hepatitis B
HPV: human papillomavirus
Inf: influenza
IPV: inactivated poliomyelitis
JE: Japanese encephalitis
Men: meningococcus
Men B: Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B protein
Meas: measles
Mumps: mumps
Pneu: pneumococcus
Rab: rabies
Rot: rotavirus
Rub: rubella
T: tetanus
Typh: typhoid
Var: varicella
YF: yellow fever
ZEBOV: Zaire ebolavirus
Zos: herpes zoster

Adjuvant-

AAHS: amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate
Al(OH)₃: Aluminum hydroxide
AlPO₄: Aluminum phosphate
AS01_B: 3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A [MPL], Quillaja saponaria Molina, fraction 21 [QS-21], cholesterol, dioleoyl phosphatidylcholine [DOPC], disodium phosphate anhydrous, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, water for injection
AS04: 3-O-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A adsorbed onto aluminum (as hydroxide salt)
MF59: squalene, polysorbate 80, sorbitan trioleate, sodium citrate, citric acid, water for injection

Preservative-

P: phenol
PE: 2-phenoxyethanol
Tm: thimerosal

Table 2: Types and contents of passive immunizing agents authorized for use in Canada
Brand name	Route	Passive immunizing agent type	Origin of antibodies	Protects against or treats	Preservative	Potential allergens	Other materials	Abbreviation
A dash [ - ] indicates that there are no materials under that category in the product.
Antidiphtheria serum^{Footnote 1}	IV	Antitoxin	Horse serum or Horse plasma	D	Type varies with supplier	Equine protein	Contents vary with supplier	DAT
BAT^® ^{Footnote 2}	IV	Antitoxin	Horse plasma	B	-	Equine protein Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 3}	Maltose	BAT
Baby BIG^® ^{Footnote 1}^{Footnote 2}	IV	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	B	-	-	Human albumin Sucrose	BIG-IV
BEYFORTUS^TM (nirsevimab)	IM	Human monoclonal antibody	Recombinant DNA technology	RSV	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 3}	L-arginine hydrochloride L-histidine L-histidine hydrochloride Sucrose Water for injection	RSVAb
Cytogam^® ^{Footnote 4}	IV	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	CMV	-	-	Human albumin Sucrose	CMVIg
CNJ-016^TM	IV	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	Vac	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 3}	Maltose Water for injection	VIG
EVUSHELD^TM	IM	Anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies	Recombinant DNA technology	SARS-CoV-2	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 3}	L-Histidine L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate Sucrose Water for injection	-
GamaSTAN^® S/D	IM	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	HA Meas	-	-	Glycine	Ig
HepaGam B^®	IM/IV	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	HB	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 3}	Maltose Tri-n-butyl phosphate Triton^®X-100	HBIg
HyperHEP B^® S/D	IM	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	HB	-	-	Glycine	HBIg
HYPERRAB^®	IM/ Local	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	Rab	-	-	Glycine	RabIg
HYPERTET^® S/D	IM	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	Tet	-	-	Glycine	TIg
KamRAB^TM	IM/ Local	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	Rab	-	-	Glycine Sodium hydroxide Water for injection	RabIg
SYNAGIS^® (palivizumab)	IM	Humanized monoclonal antibody	Recombinant DNA technology	RSV	-	-	Chloride Glycine Histidine Water for injection	RSVAb
VariZIG^® ^TM	IV/ IM	Immunoglobulin	Human plasma	Var	-	Polysorbate 80 ^{Footnote 3}	Glycine Human plasma protein Sodium chloride Sodium phosphate Tri-n-butyl phosphate Triton^®X-100	VarIg
Footnote 1 Only available on an emergency basis by application to Health Canada's Special Access Programme (SAP) (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/special-access/drugs.html). Public health should be contacted for assistance in obtaining these products. Information can also be obtained from the SAP website or by contacting the SAP office (telephone: 613-941-2108; fax: 613-941-3194; Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Return to footnote 1 referrer Footnote 2 For further information refer to Health Canada: Botulism - Guide for healthcare professionals at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/legislation-guidelines/guidance-documents/botulism-guide-healthcare-professionals-2012.html Return to footnote 2 referrer Footnote 3 There is a potential of cross-reactive hypersensitivity between PEG and polysorbates. Therefore, individuals who are being administered a product that includes any one of these components as ingredients. should be asked about any allergic reactions to either component. Return to footnote 3 referrer Footnote 4 Should be used in consultation with a specialist in immunodeficiency. Return to footnote 4 referrer

Abbreviations:

Route-

IM: intramuscular
IV: intravenous
Local: local wound infiltration

Protects against or treats-

B: botulism
CMV: cytomegalovirus
D: diphtheria
HA: hepatitis A
HB: hepatitis B
Meas: measles
Rub: rubella
Rab: rabies
RSV: respiratory syncytial virus
T: tetanus
Vac: vaccinia
Var: varicella
N/A: Not applicable

Preservative-

P: phenol

Selected references

Keith LS, Jones DE, Chou C. Aluminum toxicokinetics regarding infant diet and vaccinations. Vaccine 2002;20:S13-17.
Offit PA, Jew RK. Addressing parents' concerns: Do vaccines contain harmful preservatives, adjuvants, additives, or residuals? Pediatrics 2003;112:1394-97.

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Contents of immunizing agents authorized for use in Canada: Canadian Immunization Guide

On this page

Introduction

Contents of immunizing agents

Adjuvants

Preservatives

Other contents of immunizing agents

Abbreviations

Route-

Immunogen-

Adjuvant-

Preservative-

Abbreviations:

Route-

Protects against or treats-

Preservative-

Selected references

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