Foetal cells in MMR and other vaccines

Some formulations of hepatitis A, poliovirus, rabies, rubella, and varicella-zoster vaccines have been made using WI-38 or MRC-5 cell cultures. These cell lines were made possible due to 2 abortions performed in the 1960s (WI-38 was cultured in 1961 in Sweden and MRC-5 was cultured in England in 1966.) The abortions were not performed for the purpose of harvesting these cells, and no additional abortions are needed to sustain vaccine manufacture.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center