How do prolife parents deal with vaccines?

Sunday, October 2. 2011

How do prolife parents deal with vaccines?

One of the most asked about and difficult ethical issues for Catholic parents to deal with is the issue with vaccination. Many vaccines are created with cell lines that originated from an aborted fetus. Cell lines MRC-5 and WI-38 are common cell lines used to produce vaccines for rubella, polio, hepatitis A and chicken pox. MRC-5 was developed from lung cells from a 14-week-old male fetus that was electively aborted in 1966. The WI-38 line was derived from a female fetus that was aborted in 1964. There are alternatives possible to using these cell lines that originated from abortion, but unless manufacturers are pressured to change to alternative cell lines, it is unlikely that they will.

Many people often argue that using fetal cells from an aborted fetus is morally acceptable because the fetus was going to die anyway. The Catholic Church rejects this argument. If an organism must be intentionally destroyed to harvest cells, then the cells are morally tainted. If these fetal stem cells had come from a natural miscarriage, then it would be morally permissible for parents to donate these cells to research. The morality of fetal cell use is analogous to that of organ donation. If the patient died of natural causes or a traumatic event, then is is morally permissible to use their organs for the benefit of others. It is not morally permissible to intentionally and prematurely end a person's life and then take their organs for donation. Using fetal stem cells from aborted fetuses is analogous to using organs from death row inmates or victims of euthanasia.

So can Catholic parents, in good conscience, get their children vaccinated with vaccines made with cell lines like MRC-5 and WI-38? Yes, but only if certain conditions are met. Parents must ask their health care provider for an alternative to vaccines made with cell lines from aborted fetuses. If there are no alternatives, then they must voice their objection. Bishop Robert Vasa wrote the following about vaccines that used cell lines obtained through immoral means:

Thus my reading of [Dignitas Personae] inclines me to conclude that parents may use these vaccines derived from cell lines of illicit origin but they should inquire about the availability of a more ethical alternative and they must make their objections known to the physician, to the health care system and to the FDA. Clearly, the use of these vaccines, while morally permissible, is not entirely morally neutral....

In reality, if everyone did this then one of two things would happen. The pharmaceutical companies would stop making the vaccine or they would begin to look seriously for alternatives that are not tied to abortion. Without our protest, however, these companies have no incentive to change their ways. They will continue to do evil that good may come from it; we will continue to receive the good they produce, and we will thus give moral and financial support to their heinous practices.

Sound Choice Pharmaceutical Institute is a Seattle company has "developed a certification program to let consumers know how their vaccines, drugs and cosmetics are manufactured so that they can make informed choices about what to purchase." You can contact them if you have questions about whether a certain vaccine or other drug is morally tainted.

Posted by Rebecca Taylor in Biotechnology at 12:12 | Comments (8) | Trackbacks (0)

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The quote from Bishop Vasa is disappointing to me. I disagree that the pharmaceutical companies would stop making the vaccines or even "look seriously for alternatives" just because patients express reservations to their physician, FDA or "the health care system" (whatever that means - how can you make objections known to a system?) yet still go ahead and purchase the vaccines. I can understand the reluctance of a bishop to assert that using certain vaccines is immoral because of fear of children contracting these illnesses if they are not immunized. I'm not contending it's an easy call to make and I'm glad I'm not a bishop. But the position seems so - accommodating. Is this really being the light of the world?

#1 sojourner on 2011-10-04 13:00 (Reply)

"I disagree that the pharmaceutical companies would stop making the vaccines or even "look seriously for alternatives" just because patients express reservations to their physician, FDA or "the health care system" (whatever that means - how can you make objections known to a system?) yet still go ahead and purchase the vaccines."
My thoughts exactly. The "I don't like it, but I'll buy it anyway" does nothing. It does not reduce profits or give incentives to develop other morally acceptable vaccines.

#1.1 Megan on 2011-10-05 09:21 (Reply)

I urge you to visit the ThinkTwice.com website. It is shocking to find out the real truth about vaccines. For instance: why do outbreaks of measles, polio,etc. break out in fully vaccinated populations. Why do vaccine manufacturers have clandestine meetings? Everyone concerned about babies and children needs to read what is in this site. You will never think about vaccines the same way again -- I promise!!

#1.2 Beverly Hodorowski on 2011-10-05 21:26 (Reply)

I am a family physician and mother of 5. Even as a physician I was unaware of the aborted fetal cell lines prior to about a year ago. So do please inform your physician - because many are unaware (as I was). I am actually personally struggling with what to do with my now one year old - since I have to consciously make that decision (I immunized my older children - unaware of the facts). Unfortunately - there are no viable alternatives right now that I am aware - except going to another country (I believe Spain or somewhere in Europe has some not of this cell line). For those who can't afford this - it is a very tough decision! Still praying for the right answers.

#2 Stacey Luetmer on 2011-10-05 19:23 (Reply)

Stacey -- Sadly, altogether too many physicians are very uneducated when it comes to vaccines. I found that after studying vaccine issues for only a short while that I knew more than our children's pediatrician. Most doctors accept without any inquiry the orthodoxies handed to them, forgetting that there can be very few real orthodoxies in medicine, only the current best working hypotheses.

#2.1 Michael Cummings on 2011-10-05 21:40 (Reply)

You are very right Micheal. I have been informing the doctors in my practice about these issues. I have started to challenge the flu shots also - and am finding myself alone on this issue in my fairly large practice. As trained as we are - we take what is handed down by "the powers that be"(AKA CDC and various medical studies) a litte too easily. And because the pressures of daily practice have become overwhelming - the time for research about these orthodoxies handed to us is very limited. It is only those issues we are personally passionate about that become a priority. So please research and pick your physician well - one with a smiliar belief system - if you are able.
I have also come to realize that the orthodoxies handed down to us can be very biased...depending on the power in the CDC, white house, medical journals, etc... Which is why the breast cancer- abortion link is covered up and not studied more, and why the real mental health issues that women suffer after abortion is not addressed. Or one hot topic now - the HPV vaccine. I have a great lecture on that if any one wants - from a maker and proponent that shows it really is not an effective vaccine. Yet it is pushed down our throats as medial providers.
The other lesson I have learned recently - is you truly are your own best advocate. Go to the doctor prepared - and if they spring anything on you about medications, vaccines, or treatments - do your homework before you agree. Never feel pressured. And then go back - have a discussion - and if they are not willing to listen or research at that time on your behalf - find a new doctor.

#2.1.1 Stacey Luetmer on 2011-10-06 09:07 (Reply)

Yes, I have heard a Catholic pediatrician on Catholic radio tell me it was an urban legend! I wish it were.
Also, the vaccines are more problematic than the depression drug in that some of the DNA from the aborted baby is in every vaccination which is not good from a health standpoint(autoimmune diseases), much less a moral one.
Remember the Monkey virus contamination of the polio vaccine?
I have quit vaccinating my children after learning about all the garbage like mercury, etc. that goes in them and how it affects the immune system itself, especially the brain's immune system.
I liken the vaccines use to using the lampshades from Dachau made out of human skin and the mattresses stuffed with human hair from the concentration camp victims. It is unnecessary ultimately and I can sleep with a good conscience.

#2.1.1.1 FRLBJ on 2012-01-13 14:52 (Reply)

What did parents do about vaccinations before medical science began using cells from aborted babies?

#3 Chris Zielinski on 2011-10-06 03:52 (Reply)

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