Fetal Bovine Serum: Why Vaccines are Not Vegan
Are you vegan? Did you even know that many vaccines use animal DNA to grow and culture the bacterium or virus being vaccinated against? Today’s vaccines have been made from a variety of animal cells, including but not limited to DNA from birds (chicken cells are very common), cows, pigs, dogs, monkeys, worms and other insects. This information alone makes many people shudder. The vaccine packaging label often states that these cells are there only in trace amounts, but they are present nonetheless.
Newsflash, vaccines are not #vegan or cruelty-free. https://bit.ly/2ieyaRv
CDC shows that the following vaccines used in the U.S. were grown using/and contain Fetal Bovine Serum: DTaP (Infanrix), DTaP-IPV (Kinrix), DTaP-HepB-IPV (Pediarix), DTaP-IPV/Hib (Pentacel), Hep A (Vaqta), MMR (MMR-II), MMRV (ProQuad)(Frozen), MMRV (ProQuad)(Refrigerator Stable), Polio (IPV – Ipol), Rabies (RabAvert), Rotavirus (RotaTeq), Tdap (Boostrix), Varicella (Varivax)Frozen, Zoster (Shingles)(Zostavax) Frozen, Zoster (Shingles)(Zostavax)Refrigerator Stable,
It has been estimated that around half a million litres of raw FCS is produced each year worldwide which equates to the harvesting of more than one million bovine fetuses annually. (1) Some sources have suggested that the actual figure may be closer to two million fetuses per year. (2)
After slaughter and bleeding of the cow at an abattoir, the mother’s uterus containing the calf fetus is removed during the evisceration process (removal of the mother’s internal organs) and transferred to the blood collection room. (3). A needle is then inserted between the fetus’s ribs directly into its heart and the blood is vacuumed into a sterile collection bag. This process is aimed at minimizing the risk of contamination of the serum with micro-organisms from the fetus and its environment. Only fetuses over the age of three months are used otherwise the heart is considered too small to puncture. (4)
Once collected, the blood is allowed to clot at room temperature and the serum separated through a process known as refrigerated centrifugation.
It remains questionable as to whether or not fetuses have already died from anoxia (deprivation of oxygen) prior to serum collection. Nevertheless, no anesthesia is given, despite their possible ability to experience pain and discomfort.
Educate before you Vaccinate. Health Freedom Idaho supports Informed Consent.
