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This can be seen in the package inserts - referred to as diploid cells
Older cell lines
This info is from the Nursing 93 Drug Handbook published by the Springhouse
Corporation.
"Rubella virus vaccone, live attenuated (RA 27/3)
Meruvax II
How Supplied:
Injection: single-dose vial containing not less than 1,000 TCID (tissue
culture infective doses) of the Wistar RA 27/3 strain of rubella (virus
propated in human diploid cell culture)"
"Poliovirus vaccine, inactivated (IPV)
Polivax
Polivax employs human diploid cultures."
"Rabies vaccine, human diploid cell (HDCV)
Imovax"
From http://www.medaccess.com/cdcimun/Rubella/Rub1_02.htm
The live rubella virus vaccine* currently distributed in the United States
is prepared human diploid cell culture. In January 1979, this vaccine (RA
27/3) replaced the HPV-77:DE-5 vaccine grown in duck embryo cell culture
because it induced higher seroresponse, greater resistance to reinfection,
and lower reaction rate. Although both subcutaneous and intranasal
administration of the vaccine have been studied, the vaccine is licensed
only for subcutaneous administration. The vaccine is produced in monovalent
form (rubella only) and in combinations: measles-rubella (MR),
rubella-mumps, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines. *Official name:
rubella virus vaccine, live.
(3) MERUVAX II (Rubella Virus Vaccine Live, MSD), the Wistar RA 27/3 strain of live attenuated rubella virus grown in human diploid cell (W1-38) culture."
Gamma Globulin Prophylaxis;Inactivated Rubella Virus;Production and Biological Control of Live Attenuated Rubella Virus Vaccines ; Amer J Dis Child Vol 118 Aug 1969
Dr. K McCarthy: It seems to me that there are two things that we worry about in regards to WI-38 cell substrate.First of all, presence of extraneous viral agents; secondly, the possibility of there being human genetic material passed over into the vaccine. I wonder if there is any information about the reasons for aborting that particular embryo that gave rise to WI-38; and if it was from a family, whether we have any information about siblings from the family and whether they are normal?
Dr.S Plotkin, Philidelphia:
I should like to answer Dr. McCarthy's question. This fetus was chosen by
Dr. Sven Gard, specifically for this purpose. Both parents are known, and
unfortunately for the story, they are married to each other, still alive
and well, and living in Stockholm, persumably. The abortion was done
because they felt they had too many children. There were no familial
diseases in the history of either parent, and no history of cancer
specifically in the families; I believe this answers Dr. McCarthy's
question.
Attenuation Of RA 27/3 Rubella Virus in WI-38 Human Diploid Cells; Amer J
Dis Child vol 118 Aug 1969
Explant cultures were made of the dissected organs of a particular fetus
aborted because of rubella, the 27th in our series of fetuses aborted
during the 1964 epidemic. The third explant, which happened to be from
kidney, was selected arbitrarily for further study.
Studies of Immunization With Living Rubella Virus ; Arch J Dis Child vol 110 Oct 1965 This fetus was from a 25 year old mother exposed to rubella 8 days after last menstrual period. 16 days later she developed rubella. The fetus was surgically aborted 17 days after maternal illness and dissected immediately. Explants from several organs were cultured and successful cell growth was achieved from lung, skin, and kidney. It was then grown on WI-38. This new vaccine was tested on orphans in Philadelphia.
Poliovirus Vaccine Inactivated PolioVax Source: 1996 PHYSICIAN'S DESK
REFERENCE
The viruses are grown in human diploid (MRC-5) cell cultures, concentrated
purified and inactivated with formaldehyde. Poliovax contains formaldehyde,
2-phenoxyethanol, traces of bovine serum and may contain trace amounts of
streptomycin and/or polymyxin B and neomycin, the possibility of allergic
reactions in individuals sensitive to these substances should be borne in
mind when considering the use of this vaccine.
Bivax (Rubella and Mumps Virus Vaccine Live, MSD, U.S.P.)
Source: 1996 PHYSICIAN'S DESK REFERENCE
Bivax is a sterile lyophilized preparation of the Wistar RA 27/3 strain of
live attenuated rubella virus grown in human diploid cell (WI-38) culture;
and the Jeryl Lynn (B level) strain of mumps virus grown in cell cultures
of chick embryo.
Thank you for your letter concerning the use of aborted fetal tissue in vaccines. Human cell-line cultures are used during production of some vaccines such as varicella, rabies, inactivated polio virus, and hepatitis A. Some of these cell lines originated from fetal tissue obtained from legal abortions in the 1960s. The term "cell-line culture" refers to the substrate substance that is used for the propagation of a live virus that is used in the production of a viral vaccine. Fetal tissue has not been used to produce licensed vaccines. These tissues were used to establish cell cultures, and it is these established cell cultures that have been used to propagate virus. Since cell lines can be maintained indefinitely, no additional aborted fetuses have been used since the cell lines were initiated in the 1960s.
The reasons for using fetal cell lines are: (1) fetal cells divide much more rapidly than adult cells, and (2) there is a safety advantage in using human, rather than animal, cell lines for development and manufacture of vaccines for humans. The decision to use fetal cell lines was scientific and did not imply support for abortions.
Vaccines have been proven over the decades to be safe and effective. I am glad to know that you understand the necessity of vaccines and their value. I hope that, before making a final decision, you will discuss these cncerns with your child's medical provider.
Sincerely, Robert Breiman, MD, Director, NVPO
Note: Mr. Breiman left out the MMR, Merck uses aborted human fetal tissue in that vaccine. Interesting comment about a safety advantage in using human rather then animal cell lines. They use monkey, chicken, pork, etc animal cell lines in vaccines. Also, he didn't mention the various additives such as formaldehyde, thimerosal, aluminum, gelatin, etc.
The National Catholic Bioethics Center has several publications available on this subject. They have a list of Vaccines originating in abortion which includes a list vaccines with no alternatives available (Chickenpox, Hepatitis A and Rubella) and a list of "safe or alternatives available."
The National Catholic Bioethics Center
159 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02135-4325
Edward Furton, M.A., Ph.D. Ethicist
Director of Publications
phone - (617) 787-1900
fax - (617) 787-4900
e-mail - efurton@ncbcenter.org
The web site is: http://www.ncbcenter.org
Fetal Tissue and Vaccines. Some vaccines such as rubella and varicella are made from human cell-line cultures, and some of these cell lines originated from aborted fetal tissue, obtained from legal abortions in the 1960s. No new fetal tissue is needed to produce cell lines to make these vaccines, now or in the future.
Please see the following web site or http://www.catholicdoctors.org.uk
Click on CMQ articles
and Alternatives to Vaccines Made From Aborted Babies, Catherine Williams