2006D-0383
  

  
 Characterization and Qualification of Cell Substrates and Other Biological Starting Materials Used in the Production of Viral Vaccines for the Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Diseases

  


  

  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  


  

  
FDA Comment Number : 
  

  
EC3041
  



  

  
Submitter : 
  

  
Miss. Valerie Striker
  

  
Date & Time: 
  

  
12/12/2006 09:12:57
  



  

  
Organization : 
  

  
Miss. Valerie Striker
  



  

  
Category : 
  

  
Media
  



  

  
Issue Areas/Comments 
  


  

  


  

  
GENERAL
  


  

  



  

  
GENERAL
  


  

  



  

  
 To Whom It May Concern:



I am writing to express my views that the FDA should approve and encourage the production of vaccines which have not been derived from aborted fetal cells.  Deriving vaccines from aborted fetal cells is unethical because it violates the dignity of the human being to be used as material for scientific experimentation and production.  Furthermore, there are vaccines available which do not rely on the killing of a human being for their production.  These vaccines should be approved and made available to all U.S. citizens.  When there are two viable alternatives, one involving the destruction of human life (even if indirectly) and the other involving no destruction, the alternative relying on no destruction should always be preferred.  It is the responsibility of the FDA to allow consumers in the U.S. to choose the alternative that does not rely on the destruction of human life to produce a vaccine.





In addition, there is a utilitarian reason for the FDA to approve and encourage the production of vaccines that do not derive from the killing of a human being.  Thanks to advances in science, there is growing awareness of the fact that from the stage of the conception, the fetus is a human being.  As a result, there is growing awareness of the ethical unacceptability of using vaccines derived from the destruction of human life. Achieving optimal vaccination in the U.S. is becoming more difficult.  The ethical problems associated with using vaccines derived from the destruction of human life will only serve to decrease vaccination rates, possibly making vaccination ineffective from a public health standpoint. The FDA can help to promote optimal vaccination for the public by approving vaccines which have not been derived from the destruction of human life.  If optimal vaccination is the goal, then people should be given the opportunity to choose a vaccine they will actually use.



Thank you for considering these comments.