Vaccination

The purpose of vaccination is to induce an immune response to the antigen(s) contained in the vaccine, with the aim of conferring protection against a specific pathogen should it be encountered in the future. There are many different types of vaccines.1

What is an adjuvanted vaccine?

Adjuvanted vaccines contain an adjuvant in addition to the antigen(s). Adjuvants are a diverse group of substances which are designed to enhance the immune response to antigens contained in the vaccine.1

Adjuvants

What is an adjuvant?

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An adjuvant is a substance designed to enhance immune responses to vaccine antigens3

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The word 'adjuvant' is derived from the Latin word 'adjuvare' which means 'to help'.2

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Adjuvants are a diverse group of substances. Aluminium potassium sulphate was the first adjuvant to be used in human vaccines3

Potential benefits of including adjuvants in vaccines

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To enhance the immune response to vaccine antigens

This might translate to a faster onset of immune protection, protection against a broader range of genotypes or variants, or a longer duration of protection against a given pathogen than might otherwise be possible using antigens alone.3

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To help improve the immune response in certain populations

The immune system can become 'weakened' with ageing (a process known as immunosenescence) and by drugs or diseases which suppress the immune system. Adjuvants can be used to enhance the immune response in these populations.1,3

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To enable sparing of the antigen component of a vaccine

The addition of an adjuvant may enable a smaller amount of antigen to be used, which might be desirable if antigen supply is limited.3

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How do adjuvants work?

Adjuvants are a diverse group of substances with different modes of action4. Some adjuvants provide danger signals to activate the innate immune system for instance, through acting as ligands to Pattern Recognition Receptors1,4-6. Other adjuvants may boost antigen presentation6.

References

  1. Pollard AJ and Bijker EM; Nat Rev Immunol. 2021; 21(2): 83–100.
  2. Bonanni P, Santos JI. Vaccine evolution. In: Garçon N, Stern PL, Cunningham AL & Stanberry LR, (editors). Understanding modern vaccines: Perspectives in vaccinology. Elsevier. 2011; 1-24
  3. Garçon N, Leroux-Roels G, Cheng W-F. Vaccine adjuvants. In: Garçon N, Stern PL, Cunningham AL & Stanberry LR (editors). Understanding modern vaccines: Perspectives in vaccinology. Elsevier. 2011;89-113
  4. Di Pasquale A. Preiss S, Silva FT, Garçon N. Vaccine Adjuvants: from 1920 to 2015 and Beyond. Vaccines (Basel) 2015; 3:320-343. 
  5. O’Hagan DT, Valiante NM. Recent advances in the discovery to vaccine adjuvants. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2003; 2:727-735.
  6. Reed, S., Orr, M. & Fox, C. Key roles of adjuvants in modern vaccines. Nat Med 2013; 19, 1597–1608.

Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. Adverse events should also be reported to GlaxoSmithKline on 0800 221 441.

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February 2023 | NX-GB-GVX-WCNT-220005 (V1.0)