Some stories on the internet have suggested that polysorbate 80 in vaccines causes infertility. There is no evidence to support this suggestion. To the contrary, abundant evidence refutes the claim:

• We are regularly exposed to polysorbate 80 in many other products. 
• The amount of polysorbate 80 in vaccines is very small compared with amounts in other products.  
• Nothing about the way vaccines are processed would explain how polysorbate 80 in vaccines could lead to infertility. 
• Millions of people have received vaccines and later gone on to have children.

But let’s take a deeper look.

About polysorbate 80 

Polysorbate 80 is part of a group of chemicals that allows water and oil to mix easily. They can do this because their structures have two distinct parts. One part likes water; this is called hydrophilic. The other part likes oil; this is called lipophilic. Because of these distinct parts, when these chemicals are put in water or water-like substances, they come together to form small circles, called micelles. Micelles are groups of molecules that have  oriented themselves such that the lipophilic parts are on the inside of the circle, and the hydrophilic parts are facing outward. You can picture it like a herd of elephants that sense danger — they make a ring around the young and weak, and the strong elephants face outward to monitor for danger and protect the vulnerable. In the case of these chemicals, including polysorbate 80, the hydrophilic parts face the water-like environment, protecting the lipophilic parts on the inside of the circle. This tendency makes them very useful chemicals for situations like:

• Mixing water-based and non-water-based solutions, called emulsions
• Protecting oily or fatty chemicals in a water-based environment, such as fat-soluble vitamins passing through the digestive tract
• Stabilizing solutions, so they don’t clump or separate in different environments, such as during manufacturing, storage or transport, or in changing temperatures
• Dissolving lipophilic compounds that would be otherwise difficult to break down

Since chemicals like polysorbate 80 are so useful, we are regularly exposed to them in a variety of products. For example, polysorbate 80 can be found in:

• Lotions, creams and ointments
• Makeup 
• Shampoos and conditioners 
• Medications and vaccines 
• Vitamins and supplements
• Salad dressings 
• Canned foods
• Processed foods, like chips, dips and flavored crackers
• Baked goods, like breads, cakes and muffins 
• Desserts like puddings, mousse and custards
• Ice cream and milkshakes
• Protein drinks
• Chewing gum

Indeed, polysorbate 80 is included in more than 3,000 pharmaceutical products. 

*Note: As a reminder, 1 milligram (mg) is one-thousandth of a gram. One gram is the weight of one-fifth of a teaspoon of water or about one raisin. (See more about these quantities on the “Types of Vaccine Ingredients” page.)

Polysorbate 80 in vaccines

Polysorbate 80 is present in some vaccines as either a stabilizer or as a residual manufacturing byproduct. Stabilizers help ensure that vaccines work in the way that they are meant to when they are administered. Manufacturing byproducts are materials that were used to make the vaccine and remain in very small amounts in the final product. (To find out more about these different types of vaccine ingredients, check the “Types of Vaccine Ingredients” page.)

Quantities of polysorbate 80 in vaccines are shown in this table. Notice that some quantities are presented in milligrams (mg) and others are presented in micrograms (mcg). Micrograms are smaller amounts. One milligram contains 1,000 micrograms. (To see more about these relative amounts, check the “Types of Vaccine Ingredients” page.)

Health effects of polysorbate 80 

Polysorbate 80 has been used in foods and medicines for more than 70 years, and its safety has been evaluated by various different groups around the world. It has not been found to cause cancer or alter DNA. Nor has it been found to affect fertility or fetal development.

What is known is that a small number of people have severe allergies to polysorbate 80, and high doses of intravenous (IV) fluids that contain polysorbate 80 may increase the ability of medications to enter the brain. This latter knowledge has enabled scientists to explore the potential for polysorbate 80-based nanoparticles to deliver medications that need to reach the brain. These studies are ongoing in animals.

Some studies have suggested that eating large amounts of foods that contain polysorbate 80 can change the bacteria in a person’s intestines and cause low-level inflammation. However, these studies have been done in animals using much larger amounts than people normally eat, so the likelihood of people experiencing harm remains uncertain. 

Polysorbate 80 in vaccines and health

Billions of doses of vaccines that contain polysorbate 80 have been administered to people around the world. While allergic reactions to polysorbate 80 have been identified, they are extremely rare. No other health effects have been identified.

If someone has a known severe allergy to polysorbate 80, they should avoid vaccines that contain this ingredient. 

Likewise, all people are recommended to stay at the location where a vaccine is given for 15-30 minutes after vaccination in case they experience an allergic reaction. 

Summary

In sum, polysorbate 80 is most often introduced in foods, where it has been found to be safe. Polysorbate 80 has not been found to cause cancer, alter DNA, affect fertility or lead to issues during fetal development.

The small and infrequent exposures from vaccines will not significantly change a person’s overall exposure, and billions of doses of vaccines that contain polysorbate 80 have been safely administered. 

Some people might have an allergic reaction to polysorbate 80. For this reason, people with known severe allergies to that ingredient should not receive vaccines that contain it. However, the vast majority of people will not experience negative effects from this vaccine ingredient.