I am hopeful that the new Covid 19 vaccines that are being approved soon will help stop Covid 19 but, like many people, I only want to take a vaccine that does not use cell lines from aborted babies.
But that information can be hard to find, confusing and the facts are sometimes disputed.
For example, a November 18, 2020 article from the Associated Press titled "Lung tissue from aborted fetus not used in AstraZeneca vaccine development" disputes an online video that claims tissue from an aborted baby was used. I discovered later that this AP headline was inaccurate.
And there are disputes even in Catholic and other religious circles.
For example, some Catholic bishops and priests questioned the use of some vaccines before Archbishop Naumann and Bishop Rhoades from the USCCB (the US Catholic bishops conference) wrote a memo citing three Vatican documents and stating that:
"Neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccine involved the use of cell lines that originated in fetal tissue taken from the body of an aborted baby at any level of design, development or production. They are not completely free from any connection to abortion, however, as both Pfizer and Moderna use of a tainted cell line for one of the confirmatory lab tests of their products."
"There is thus a connection, but it is relatively remote," they continued. "Some are asserting that if a vaccine is connected in any way with tainted cell lines, then it is immoral to be vaccinated with them. This is an inaccurate portrayal of Catholic moral teaching."
and
"Most importantly, they all make it clear that, at the level of the recipient, it is morally permissible to accept vaccination when there are no alternatives and there is a serious risk to health."
However, other articles like the National Catholic Register's Nov. 25, 2020 "Measuring Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine: Now's the Time to Press Hard for Ethical Options" by Stacy Trasancos, PhD, MA and Children of God for Life's Nov. 16, 2020 article "Moderna Covid-19 Vaccine – Facts – Not Fiction say that kidney cells from aborted babies were used in the development of the Moderna Vaccine but also adds that there are plenty of other ethical vaccines being developed .
After weeks of investigation, I found the simplest explanation of the vaccine production process and its' potential problems at The Charlotte Lozier Institute website.
I also found the most expansive list of current potential vaccines at the Institute's Update: COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates and Abortion-Derived Cell Lines . (The Institute does disagree with Dr. Trasancos and the Children of God for Life organization on the Moderna vaccine.)
For myself, I do want the Covid 19 vaccine when it is available but I will make sure that I am given one of the ethically uncontroversial vaccines.
I am adding this addendum to my latest blog after I discovering some new information from both a medical and a pro-life website (LifeSiteNews December 4, 2020 article "Pfizer COVID jab warning: "No breastfeeding, avoid pregnancy for 2 months, unknown fertility impacts " about the possible effects of the Pfizer Covid 19 vaccine on pregnant and breastfeeding moms.
This disturbing news and another link from a blog reader made me realize that we must have confidence that any Covid 19 vaccine will be safe as well as ethically produced.
Therefore, I have added a final line to my blog: "I will also insist on adequate information on the safety of such vaccines before I take the vaccine."