6/06/2006

Christian Medical Group Calls for Ethical Vaccine Production

LARGO, Florida, June 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Once again, Children of God for Life is commending a major Christian medical organization on their position of vaccines that take their origin in abortion.

In a statement on their website, the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) notes “CMDA encourages the use of and endorses the further development of medically effective and ethically permissible alternatives that do not raise the question of moral complicity.”

“We encourage pro-life physicians to protest further development of aborted fetal cell line vaccines”, stated Debi Vinnedge, Children of God for Life’s Executive Director. “CMDA is doing just that!”

Founded in 1931, the CMDA has a membership of more than 17,000 colleagues. Ms Vinnedge hopes that continued pressure by medical professionals serves as a wake-up call for government and pharmaceutical industry officials to use morally acceptable means of developing medical products.

“Technology exists to make vaccines without using cell culture lines derived from aborted fetuses. To their credit, some companies are using these methods to manufacture new vaccines such as the recently approved human papilloma virus vaccine. It is time to reengineer older vaccine manufacturing to the same standards," stated David Stevens, MD, Executive Director, Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

In a previous statement last month, the Catholic Medical Association took a similar position, noting the “moral duty” to pressure the pharmaceutical companies for immediate changes.

“Using aborted fetal cell lines is similar to using embryonic stem cells rather than adult stem cells,” noted Vinnedge. “Why even try to put out a product that a large number of people are going to have a moral objection to, when there are ethical means readily available?”

The CMDA further noted that, “Continued use of a cell line developed from an intentionally aborted fetus poses moral questions and must be decided as a matter of conscience, weighing the clear moral obligation to protect the health of our families and society against the risk of complicity with evil.”

“Nobody should be put in some sort of moral dilemma when it comes to protecting their loved ones from disease”, noted Vinnedge. “It’s time the industry and our government did something about it!”

To read the CMDA statement visit: http:// www.cmdahome.org/index.cgi?CONTEXT=art&art=1563&BISKIT=2029710460