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Moral outrage at the use of cells or tissues from aborted foetuses to produce vaccines
Some people may feel that vaccines are contrary to their moral stance. Vaccines may be perceived as promoting immoral behaviour or as having been developed using immoral means.
Moral concerns differ from religious concerns because even though morality may stem from religious beliefs, faith is not a necessary condition for developing certain moral positions. For example, people may oppose abortion for moral reasons without appealing to religious beliefs.
Moral concerns about vaccines often arise in the context of sexuality. For example the vaccine against human papilloma virus (HPV) which is sexually transmitted may be seen to encourage sexual activity.
Moral concerns may also arise around the use of foetal cell lines in vaccine production or the alleged mistreatment of animals during vaccine development processes.
This theme invokes moral opposition to the use of foetal cells or tissues in the production of some vaccines. It is similar to the theme of ‘unethical experimentation’ but recurs frequently as a particular moral issue people are worried about.
It is good to be critical and uphold high ethical standards when developing medical treatments. It is true that the development of some vaccines require the use of cell lines coming from foetal tissues and it is understandable to be concerned about the welfare of pregnant women and foetuses. It can be difficult to understand what is meant by foetal stem cells.
Dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals is most productive if it is guided by empathy, and an opportunity for the patient to affirm the reasons underlying their attitudes and to express understanding for that. That’s why it is important to understand the attitude roots behind people’s overt opinions. To affirm a person’s underlying attitude root does not mean we need to agree with the specifics of their argument. For example, we can acknowledge that:
It is good to be critical and uphold high ethical standards when developing medical treatments. It is true that the development of some vaccines require the use of cell lines coming from foetal tissues and it is understandable to be concerned about the welfare of pregnant women and foetuses. It can be difficult to understand what is meant by foetal stem cells.
No vaccines include foetal tissues as components but foetal cell lines may be used in the production of some vaccines.
Foetal stem cells or foetal cell lines are cells grown in laboratories. The most commonly used are derived from embryos that were aborted or miscarried in the 1970’s. They are not taken from foetuses that are being aborted. No new tissue from embryos is needed because cells have been cultured and multiplied.
Foetal cell lines are used widely in developing treatments for conditions including diabetes, cancers and strokes.
The use of vaccines does not legitimise the practice of abortion.
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