I’m Vegan, Should I Vaccinate?

I’m Vegan, Should I Vaccinate?

Vaccines stimulate the body's immune system

Vaccines contain either killed or weakened forms of a pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria or virus or components of these.  When the vaccine is injected into the human body, it stimulates a response by the body's immune system.  This response protects against the development of the disease after future exposures.

Vaccines follow a schedule from birth to adulthood

According to the CDC, there is a wide range of recommended vaccines for all children, along with additionally recommended vaccines for certain high-risk groups.  The vaccine schedule begins at birth, then follows a somewhat complex menagerie of shots until age 18 years.  Of course, after that the medical community implores us to get our annual influenza ("flu") vaccine.  It's recommended that we continue getting vaccines, even if the illness is no longer present in the United States, because those traveling here may carry it into our country.  It's important to consult your medical professional when planning a vaccine schedule for yourself, your child or others in your family.  

There are well documented benefits to vaccinating

Protect yourself and your family

The Cleveland Clinic puts it simply: "Immunization is a way to protect people from getting a number of illnesses."  These illnesses can, of course, spread and endanger the health of others in the community.  They can also be life threatening, especially for certain high-risk groups. For example, Dr. Mark H. Hermanoff, MD of Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin explains that the flu is especially dangerous for:

• Young children (under age 2 years)
• Adults (over age 65 years)
• Pregnant women
• People with chronic illness (especially asthma and heart, lung or kidney disease)
• People with weak immune systems (due to illness or medication)

Without vaccination, you run the risk of contracting a serious illness.  The World Health Organization (WHO) placed "vaccine hesitancy" in their list of the Ten Threats to Global Health in 2019.  Even if you had vaccines as a child, there are "booster" shots of certain vaccines as an adult.  If you were never vaccinated as a child, there are some vaccines that are recommended to have in adulthood.  Consult your medical professional for specific vaccination advice.

Source

Protect the community

Besides protecting yourself and your family, vaccines also protect the community.  The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) describes "community immunity", also known as "herd immunity", as a way to "help keep yourselves and your community healthy."  An outbreak happens when a lot of people get sick in a community.  Herd immunity protects the community from an outbreak, because when enough people have been vaccinated, the pathogens ("germs") don't travel as easily from person-to-person.  Herd immunity protects everyone, but especially those who can't get vaccinated, due to allergies or a weakened/failing immune system.  According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, vaccines save 2-3 million lives per year, although sadly, about 1.5 people die of vaccine-preventable illnesses.

Vaccines are safe

Medical professionals around the world widely consider vaccines to be safe.  According to the Mayo Clinic, "The benefits of getting a vaccine are much greater than the possible side effects for almost all children."  The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the safety of vaccines, and verifies that all vaccines are run through multiple phases of trials before they are approved for us.  While there are possible side effects, they are very rare.  Furthermore, the benefits to individuals and the community are widely known.  The possible side effects or risks of vaccines should be discussed with your medical professional before receiving the vaccination.  

There are animal derived ingredients in vaccines

Most vaccines are manufactured using cow-derived products

According to the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the micro-organisms (bacteria and viruses) used for the manufacture of vaccines oftentimes use animal-derived products to grow.  In the 19th century, microbiologists were successful in growing bacteria in the laboratory.  They tried to mimic, as closely as possible, the conditions found in an infected person's tissues, so they often used growth media that contained sugars, salts and various meat extracts.  Synthetic media were developed, but certain growth media still use animal-derived products, such as fetal calf serum.  Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is obtained from a cow fetus in the slaughterhouse, because they are large animals and the supply is plentiful from the animal-based food chain.  Other cow products used in the manufacture of vaccines include:

Cow Blood:

• amino acids
• glycerol
• detergents
• gelatin
• enzymes

Cow Milk:

• amino acids
• sugars (such as galactose)

Cow Tallow (fat), Bones & Muscle:

• glycerol
• gelatin
• amino acids
• skeletal muscle is used in bacterial broth preparation

Vaccines are developed in chicken eggs & other animal products

The Science Channel documents how vaccines are manufactured using hen eggs, a technology developed in the mid-1900s that is still used today.  One vaccine uses one egg, so in a typical vaccine facility, there can be over a million eggs present.  The nasal flu vaccine even uses pork-based gelatine as a stabilizer.  Some flu vaccines have been "adjuvanted" to boost the body's immune response, and this adjuvante is fish-derived squalane (an intermediate found in fish livers).

Some vaccines are produced using two lines of fetal tissue cells

Dr. Paul Offit of the Vaccine Education Center in Philadelphia explains how fetal tissue cell lines, from two elective abortions in the 1960s, are still being used today to manufacture vaccines.

Intention, Not Perfection

There may be a belief that vegans have a stronger immune system that is all-powerful in resisting communicable illnesses, and therefore don't need to take vaccines.  However, common sense and actual data tell us that vegans do get sick.  This is where...

Intention, Not Perfection

...is vital.  Those who aspire to follow a vegan lifestyle, such as myself, continually seek to find plant-based alternatives in all facets of life.  However, my personal view is that this goal should be sought whenever possible and practical.  According to the Vegan RD, there are no vegan alternatives to childhood vaccines.  The Good Vegan takes it a step further, claiming that there are no vegan options for any vaccines.  Other sources, such as the Vegetarian Society, confirm that there are rarely flu vaccines on the market that are vegan or vegetarian.  

So, should I vaccinate?

For me, it's not even a debate. The health risks -- to myself, my husband, my friends, my coworkers, my students, the community at large -- far outweigh the need to be "the perfect vegan".  I'm vegan, in large part, not to contribute to the suffering imposed on non-human animals.  How, then, could I in good conscience risk imparting illness -- and the resulting suffering -- on myself and my fellow human beings, by not getting my vaccinations?