Table of Contents
- What is Diphtheria Toxoid Adsorbed on Aluminium Hydroxide, Hydrated and Aluminium Phosphate?
- What is it used for?
- Composition and Formulation
- How is it administered?
- Effectiveness
- Safety and Side Effects
- Ongoing Research
What is Diphtheria Toxoid Adsorbed on Aluminium Hydroxide, Hydrated and Aluminium Phosphate?
Diphtheria Toxoid Adsorbed on Aluminium Hydroxide, Hydrated and Aluminium Phosphate is a key component of several vaccines, including the Boostrix vaccine. It is a form of the diphtheria toxin that has been inactivated and made harmless, but still stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against diphtheria[1]. The toxoid is adsorbed onto aluminium compounds, which act as adjuvants to enhance the immune response.
What is it used for?
This component is primarily used in vaccines to prevent diphtheria, a serious bacterial infection that affects the nose and throat. It is often combined with other vaccine components to provide protection against multiple diseases in a single shot. For example, in the Boostrix vaccine, it is combined with tetanus toxoid and pertussis antigens to create a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) vaccine[1].
Composition and Formulation
The vaccine containing this component is typically formulated as a suspension for injection. It includes:
- Diphtheria toxoid adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide, hydrated and aluminium phosphate
- Tetanus toxoid adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide, hydrated and aluminium phosphate
- Pertussis toxoid adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide, hydrated and aluminium phosphate
- Pertussis pertactin adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide, hydrated and aluminium phosphate
- Pertussis filamentous haemagglutinin on aluminium hydroxide, hydrated and aluminium phosphate
How is it administered?
The vaccine is typically administered as an intramuscular injection. For adults and adolescents, it is usually given in the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. The standard dose is 0.5 ml[1].
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of this vaccine component is measured by the immune response it generates. In clinical trials, researchers look at antibody concentrations against various antigens, including:
- Anti-tetanus toxoid antibodies
- Anti-diphtheria toxoid antibodies
- Anti-pertussis toxin antibodies
- Anti-FHA (Filamentous Hemagglutinin) antibodies
- Anti-PRN (Pertactin) antibodies
Safety and Side Effects
The safety profile of vaccines containing this component is generally good. However, like all vaccines, it can cause side effects. These are typically monitored in clinical trials and may include:
- Solicited local reactions (such as pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site)
- Solicited systemic reactions (such as fatigue, headache, or fever)
- Unsolicited adverse events
- Serious adverse events (SAEs)
- Medically attended adverse events (MAAEs)
Ongoing Research
Research is ongoing to further improve vaccines containing this component. For example, a recent clinical trial (2023-508563-73-00) is investigating the co-administration of a Group B Streptococcus vaccine (GBS-NN/NN-2) with the Tdap vaccine in healthy non-pregnant women. This study aims to evaluate the immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of the combined administration compared to when each vaccine is given alone[1].
These ongoing studies help to ensure the continued safety and effectiveness of vaccines, as well as explore new ways to protect against multiple diseases with fewer injections.



