Brady Collins
Fetal cell lines have been used in the development of vaccines since the 1930s. The original rubella vaccine was made using human fetal embryo fibroblast cells obtained from two elective abortions in the 1960s. However, aborted fetal cells are not used to manufacture the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine today. While the vaccines were developed using human cell lines, there are no fetal cells, tissue, or DNA in the finished product. The cell lines are purified from cell debris, and any remaining human DNA fragments are broken down until there are none or almost none left.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fetal cell lines used in vaccine manufacture since | 1930s |
| Fetal cell lines used in the manufacture of MMR vaccine today | No |
| Fetal cell lines used in the original manufacture of MMR vaccine | Yes |
| Fetal cell lines used in the manufacture of other vaccines today | Yes |
| Religious views on the use of fetal cell lines in vaccines | Mixed |
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What You'll Learn
The MMR vaccine does not contain aborted fetal cells
Fetal cell lines have been used in the manufacture of vaccines since the 1930s. One of the first applications of cell lines derived from fetal tissue was in the production of the polio vaccine. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, however, does not contain aborted fetal cells.
The original rubella vaccine was made using human fetal embryo fibroblast cells obtained from two elective abortions in the 1960s. The rubella vaccine is one of many vaccines that use the cell lines from those aborted fetuses, meaning they descend from the original fetal cells, but are not taken directly from new fetal tissue. These cells were chosen because the womb’s sterile environment does not contain the viruses often found in animal cells.
During the manufacturing of the MMR vaccine, the vaccine virus is purified, and cellular debris and growth reagents are removed, breaking down trace DNA until there is none or almost none left. The MMR vaccine does not contain aborted fetal cells, but it does contain cell lines derived from fetal tissue. These cell lines, such as WI-38 and MRC-5, are well-studied, extensively tested, and approved by the WHO and FDA, allowing for safer and consistent vaccine production.
While the use of fetal cell lines in vaccine development has raised moral questions, especially within religious communities, many religious organizations have deemed vaccines permissible to prioritize the health of pregnant women, children, and the wider population. The Vatican has clarified that "all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience, with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion".
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The original rubella vaccine was made using fetal cells
Fetal cell lines have been used in the manufacture of vaccines since the 1930s. One of the first applications of cell lines derived from fetal tissues was in the production of the first polio vaccines. Fetal cells were chosen because the womb's sterile environment does not contain the viruses often found in animal cells.
The original rubella vaccine was made using human fetal embryo fibroblast cells obtained from two elective abortions in the 1960s. Rubella is particularly devastating to developing fetuses when their mothers are infected during pregnancy. Stanley Alan Plotkin and his research team used the WI-38 cell strain, derived from aborted human fetal tissues at the Wistar Institute in the early 1960s, to develop a rubella vaccine. The WI-38 cells grew more easily and reliably in laboratory cultures for longer periods than cells made from fetal cells originally infected with rubella. Plotkin's team used passaging, also called subcultivation, to grow the rubella virus in cell cultures. Passaging was a process in which the researchers removed a small number of infected cells from an actively dividing collection of cells, called a cell culture, grown in a laboratory. They then implanted the removed cells in a new container with growth medium, nutrients required by the cells, for the cells to continue to divide. A new daughter cell culture resulted that also contained the rubella virus. The team repeated that process again, removing a small number of cells infected with the rubella virus from the daughter cell culture to create yet another new culture. In that manner, the team perpetuated the cell line. After passaging the fetal cell cultures four times, Plotkin's team extracted the RA 27/3 strain from their cell cultures. They then infected WI-38 cell cultures with the isolated RA 27/3 rubella strain.
Today, aborted fetal cells are not used to manufacture the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, though the original rubella vaccine was made using fetal cells. The rubella vaccine is one of many vaccines that use the cell lines from those aborted fetuses, meaning they descend from the original fetal cells, but are not taken directly from new fetal tissue. During the manufacturing of the MMR vaccine, the vaccine virus is purified and cellular debris and growth reagents are removed, breaking down trace DNA until there is none or almost none left.
The use of fetal cells in vaccine development has been a controversial topic, especially for some religious groups. However, major world religions that oppose abortion, including the Roman Catholic Church, have deemed vaccines permissible to prioritize the health of pregnant women, children, and the wider population. In 2020, the Vatican's doctrinal office clarified that it is "morally licit" for Catholics to receive vaccines derived from fetal cell lines, as "the moral duty to avoid such passive material cooperation is not obligatory if there is a grave danger."
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Fetal cell lines are used to grow vaccine viruses
Fetal cell lines have been used in the manufacture of vaccines since the 1930s. One of the first applications of cell lines derived from fetal tissues was in the production of the first polio vaccines. For example, in the 1950s, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden propagated a polio virus in fetal cell lines to make a polio vaccine. The resulting vaccine was administered to about 2,000 children.
Many other vaccines, including those for chickenpox and rubella, are made using cell lines originally derived from fetal tissue from two pregnancies terminated in the 1960s. Descendants of the fibroblast cells from these fetuses have been growing in labs ever since, as the WI-38 and MRC-5 cell lines. They are still used to grow vaccine viruses today. As of March 2017, billions of vaccines have been administered that were made using the WI-38 line alone.
Some vaccines require the production of viruses, which can only replicate with the help of living host cells. While certain viruses for vaccines, such as some COVID-19 vaccine candidates, are produced using human fetal-derived cells, these cells and most of their genetic material are removed during the purification process and are therefore not present in the vaccine. Any residual DNA is also broken down into fragments during the purification process, which are harmless and do not affect our DNA.
The use of fetal cell lines in vaccine development has been a subject of debate, with some objecting to it on religious or moral grounds. The Catholic Church, for instance, has encouraged its members to use alternative vaccines produced without human cell lines if possible. However, the Vatican has clarified that "all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience, with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion".
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Vaccines are purified to remove cellular debris and growth reagents
Fetal cell lines have been used in the manufacture of vaccines since the 1930s. The first medical application of cell lines derived from fetal tissues was in the production of the polio vaccines. Many vaccines, including those for chickenpox and rubella, are made using cell lines originally derived from fetal tissue from pregnancies terminated in the 1960s. Descendants of these cells have been growing in labs ever since, as the WI-38 and MRC-5 cell lines, and are still used to grow vaccine viruses today.
The original rubella vaccine was made using human fetal embryo fibroblast cells obtained from two elective abortions in the 1960s. The rubella vaccine is one of many vaccines that use the cell lines from those aborted fetuses, meaning they descend from the original fetal cells, but are not taken directly from new fetal tissue. These cells were chosen because the womb’s sterile environment does not contain the viruses often found in animal cells.
Aborted fetal cells are not used to manufacture the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine today. However, during the manufacturing process, the vaccine virus is purified, and cellular debris and growth reagents are removed, breaking down trace DNA until there is none or almost none left. This is important because a pure product will not introduce unnecessary components that could trigger immune responses or affect us in other ways.
There are various methods for purifying vaccines, including microfiltration, gel filtration chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, hydrophobic chromatography, and affinity chromatography. For instance, gel filtration chromatography separates substances by molecular size and is used for the removal of harmful reagents. Ion exchange chromatography separates molecules based on charge difference and is widely used because it is suitable for all purification stages and all scale production.
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The Catholic Church's stance on vaccines derived from fetal cell lines
The Catholic Church has historically opposed abortion and vaccines derived from fetal cell lines. However, in recent years, the Church has nuanced its stance, acknowledging the importance of vaccination for public health. While the Church still encourages its members to use alternative vaccines produced without human cell lines if possible, it has clarified that "all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience". This statement emphasizes that using vaccines derived from fetal cell lines does not constitute formal cooperation with abortion.
In 2005, the Pontifical Academy for Life, a Vatican-affiliated organization, concluded that parents may allow their children to receive vaccines made from fetal tissue if no alternative exists and there is a grave health risk. This stance was reiterated in 2017 by the same academy, which encouraged vaccination and stated that "all clinically recommended vaccinations can be used with a clear conscience". The academy also emphasized the “moral responsibility to vaccinate” to protect the health of children and the general population.
The Vatican's doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, further clarified the Church's position in December 2020. It stated that it is "morally licit" for Catholics to receive vaccines derived from fetal cell lines, even if such lines were used in testing or development. The Vatican emphasized that the use of such vaccines does not imply a moral endorsement of abortion or the use of cell lines from aborted fetuses. This ruling was specifically addressed to concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines.
Regarding specific vaccines, the Church has not made official statements about the HPV vaccine. However, the National Catholic Bioethics Center and the Catholic Medical Association have deemed its use morally acceptable in appropriate situations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some U.S. bishops encouraged Catholics to choose vaccines with the least connection to abortion-derived cell lines when given a choice between equally safe and effective options. Nevertheless, other bishops emphasized that all available COVID-19 vaccines could be used in good conscience.
While the Catholic Church has nuanced its stance on vaccines derived from fetal cell lines, prioritizing public health, it continues to encourage the development of alternative vaccines that do not involve the use of fetal tissue. The Church's position acknowledges the moral complexity of the issue and strives to balance religious principles with the need to protect the health and well-being of individuals and society.
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Frequently asked questions
No, aborted foetal cells are not used to manufacture the MMR vaccine today. However, the original rubella vaccine was made using human fetal embryo fibroblast cells obtained from two elective abortions in the 1960s.
Yes, the MMR vaccine uses the WI-38 and MRC-5 cell lines, which were originally derived from fetal tissue. However, these are not fetal tissue but rather cell lines that have been continuously growing in labs since the 1960s.
Foetal cell lines offer several advantages over other types of cells. They are free from potential contaminants like animal viruses, provide a fertile environment for cell growth, and have a longer lifespan than regular human cells, eliminating the need for continuous sourcing of new fetal tissue.
