Do vaccines contain human fetal (HF) tissue?

From the Guidelines

Vaccines and Human Fetal Tissue

No, vaccines are not directly made from human fetal (HF) tissue. However, some vaccines have historically used cell lines derived from fetal tissues in their production process [ 1 ]. These cell lines, such as those used for rubella and varicella vaccines, are grown in human diploid cell cultures [ 1 ]. The use of these cell lines is a well-established and safe practice in vaccine manufacturing.

• Key points about vaccine production:
  • Measles and mumps vaccine viruses are grown in chick embryo fibroblast tissue culture [ 1 ].
  • Rubella and varicella vaccines are grown in human diploid cell cultures [ 1 ].
  • Inactivated hepatitis A vaccines are prepared by methods similar to those used for inactivated poliovirus vaccine, using cell-culture--adapted virus propagated in human fibroblasts [ 1 ].
• Safety and testing:
  • The cell lines used in vaccine production are thoroughly tested and treated to ensure they are free from any potential contaminants or infectious agents [ 1 ].
  • The final vaccine products do not contain any fetal tissue or cells [ 1 ].
  • Extreme caution should be exercised when administering vaccines that contain gelatin to persons who have a history of an anaphylactic reaction to gelatin or gelatin-containing products [ 1 ].

From the Research

Vaccine Development and Human Fetal Tissue

• The development of some COVID-19 vaccines involved the use of fetal cell lines, such as HEK-293 and PER.C6 2.
• However, only the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was found to contain proteins produced by PER.C6 in the final preparation administered to patients 2.
• Novavax is the only COVID-19 vaccine for which fetal cell lines were not directly involved in any portion of drug development 2.

Use of Human Fetal Tissue in Biomedical Research

• Human fetal tissue and cells derived from fetal tissue are crucial for biomedical research, including vaccine development and production 3.
• Fetal tissues and cells are used to study both normal development and developmental disorders, and are instrumental for studying many infectious diseases, including a broad range of viruses 3.
• The use of fetal tissue from elective abortions is commonplace in the pharmaceutical industry and in medical research 4.

Ethical Concerns and Alternatives

• Some individuals may have ethical concerns about the use of fetal cell lines in vaccine development, and may prefer to receive vaccines that do not use fetal cell lines 5.
• Clinicians can offer alternative responses to patients with ethical concerns, including ethical analyses of moral complicity and COVID vaccines, altruism, and religious texts that support prevention and vaccination 5.
• Research using fetal tissue has led to the development of vaccines for numerous diseases, including polio, rubella, and measles, and has the potential to cure debilitating diseases such as Parkinson disease 6.