>> Hi, my name is Paul Offit. I'm talking
to you today from the Vaccine Education Center
here at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
One question that some parents are concerned
about is whether or not vaccines are made
using fetal cells. And the answer to that
question is, yes. There are a few vaccines
that are made that way. Now, the way that happens
is that viral vaccines are grown in cells.
Viruses, unlike bacteria, have to grow in
cells. The question is what cell type one
picks.
Now, there were two elective abortions that
were performed in the early 1960s. One was
performed in England, the other was performed
in Sweden. And those two elective abortions
then created cells which have been used ever
since. And they're used to make five different
vaccines: the rubella, or German measles vaccine,
the hepatitis A virus vaccine, the varicella,
or chickenpox vaccine, the shingles vaccine,
which essentially is the varicella or chickenpox
vaccine. And lastly, one of the rabies vaccines.
Now, the answer to the question, is it true
then that some of these vaccines that I've
just mentioned could contain small quantities
of residual DNA from those cells? And the
answer to that question is, yes. And so some
Catholics have wondered about this, have questioned
this because certainly for the Catholic faith,
abortions are a sin worthy of ex-communication.
So that has worked its way up. That issues
has worked its way up all the way to the major
policy making body of the Catholic Church,
which is the Pontifical Academy for Life.
At the time that this issue was brought up
in front of that group, Joseph Ratzinger was
the head of it. Ratzinger eventually became
Pope Benedict XVI, which was our 265th pope.
And he ruled on this issue by basically saying
that while it was unfortunate that those cells
were chosen to make those vaccines, that it
was certainly justifiable still for a Catholic
to give those, or anybody frankly, to give
those vaccines to their children.
So, because those vaccines protect children,
because vaccines keep children from suffering,
or being permanently harmed, or dying, because
the Catholic Church, as is true, I think,
all major religions, values health, those
vaccines are still recommended for Catholics
who are concerned about them.
Thank you.
