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CATHOLIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR
VACCINES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ABORTION
NEEDHAM, MA -- The
Catholic Medical Association – the nation’s largest professional
organization of Catholic doctors – is calling on the nation’s vaccine makers
to develop, as soon as possible, vaccines that are not cultivated on cells
taken from aborted fetuses.
According to a recent
statement by the CMA, “physicians and patients are permitted to use the
vaccines when no effective alternative is available.” In addition, they
noted, “It is right [permissible] to abstain from using these vaccines if it
can be done without significant risk to their health.”
However, when
alternative versions of these vaccines are available, “they must be used in
place of those produced by immoral means,” CMA states.
Vaccines that have been
derived from cell lines originally prepared from tissue taken from
voluntarily aborted fetuses include those for rubella, Hepatitis A, as well
as others.
“The bottom line is
that vaccines derived from abortions should mainly be avoided and used only
when alternatives are unavailable,” said Robert Saxer, CMA’s executive vice
president. “But there is really no reason why those alternatives should be
unavailable,” Saxer continued. “The pharmaceutical companies that
manufacture the vaccines have the ability and know-how to produce versions
of these vaccines which do not depend on cell lines from aborted
fetuses. They should be pressured to develop those vaccines to meet the
health needs of those who have religious and ethical objections to
abortion.”
“In addition,” Saxer
pointed out, “The FDA has the authority to allow for the licensing and
importation of safe and effective ethical alternative vaccines such as
Takahashi (rubella) and Aimmugen (Hepatitis A), and it has a moral duty to
exercise that authority.”
Richard Doerflinger of
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities
welcomed the CMA statement. “The Catholic bishops’ Pro-Life Secretariat
looks forward to working with the Catholic Medical Association and other
organizations to help make alternative vaccines readily available in the
United States,” said Mr. Doerflinger. “In this way we can ensure that
concerned Catholics and other pro-life Americans will not confront the
dilemma of having to accept a vaccine based on morally illicit sources, or
risk compromising the health of themselves and others.”
The current situation
in Iowa, where there has been an outbreak of mumps, highlights the ongoing
urgency to resolve the issue of vaccines derived from abortions. Part of
the vaccine being used (MMR) is derived from tissue obtained from
abortion, and there is no alternative available for that component in the
US. This has raised concerns about its use among many residents of the
state.
“The concerns raised in
Iowa show that this is a real issue for many people, and that pharmaceutical
companies and the FDA have a responsibility to address these concerns and
provide vaccines that can be used by all,” Saxer said.
The entire CMA statement
can be read at:
http://www.cathmed.org
or here if
the link is unavailable
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