Aluminium-adjuvanted vaccines--a review of the current state of knowledge

Since decades aluminium formulations such as aluminium hydroxide and aluminium phosphate are widely used as adjuvants in vaccines for human use. They increase immune response induced by the vaccine antigens by mechanisms eg. a depot effect at the injection site, activation of the complement and stimulation of the macrophages. Many studies, both case control ones and those performed in vivo on animal models, confirmed the safety of aluminium adjuvants even in vaccinated infants and children. Although some of the aluminium-adjuvanted vaccines have certain limitations such as no Th1 reactivity and low stability at temperatures below 2ºC, its easy use, safety profile and low manufacturing costs confirm its suitability.