How should a Christian view vaccinations/vaccines?

Answer

As reborn believers, we are to be faithful stewards of all we receive. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2). By implication, this includes our bodies. Therefore, as stewards of God’s provision of physical bodies, we are responsible for what we put into them, how we care for them, and how we use them. Scripture does not mention vaccinations as they were not available when the Bible was written. Information on how vaccines are produced and their potential side effects is readily accessible, and those concerned about these issues should investigate. Part of our stewardship is to research, make informed decisions, and not take things for granted. With knowledge comes responsibility. Are vaccines completely risk-free? No. Have vaccines been beneficial to the world? Yes, making a case for preventive medicine. The apostle Paul advises Timothy to “use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.” (1 Timothy 5:23); this is clearly an encouragement to take preventive measures.

The decision to vaccinate or not should be an informed one, not driven by fear. In some areas, children cannot attend school without what is deemed proper vaccinations. Certain professions mandate specific vaccinations. Additionally, there are instances of diseases once believed to be eliminated in a country resurfacing; this resurgence could be due to travelers introducing them from other regions or lack of vaccination. Parents must weigh the consequences of their child’s decisions.Ay getting one of the diseases they were not immunized against. Adults should consider the personal consequences of getting or not getting a specific vaccine as well as the implications of their decision for others. Rarely do children or adults react with more than a mild fever and a sore leg or arm for a day or two, but severe reactions can and do occur. Vaccines have proven to be beneficial in many regards. Legitimate concerns have also been raised. For example, there has been a question about the link between vaccines and the presence of autism in children. Whether or not that will be proven is unknown, but the fact that the issue is shining light on vaccines is a good thing. The conversation over vaccines can result in people making more informed and proactive decisions about their health issues and those of their children.

VaccinePlace.com lists preventable diseases and long-term complications that can result from them. As in all things, prayer for wisdom is needed. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5; see also Proverbs 3:4-5). We are free to make any choice, but we are not free to exempt ourselves from the consequences of those choices. The apostle Paul stresses this in 1 Corinthians 6:11-12 and 10:23, where he tells us that all things are “lawful” for us but that not all things edify or build us up. Not all things are expedient or profitable, and we should not be under the power of anything outside of the Spirit of the Lord. Therefore, it behooves us to make informed, prayerful choices and to make them without fear but with faith in the Lord.

Thoughts on the connection between vaccines and aborted fetal tissue (please see our article on abortion):

Some people worry about the fact that some vaccines are grown in cell cultures that were originally obtained from human fetuses. Viruses requirTo thrive, viruses require a living host, and vaccine manufacturers favor human cells due to the specificity of virus growth requirements. Some viruses can only replicate in particular cells, while those from animal cells may pose risks to humans. Ongoing research aims to create molecular tools for vaccine production without live host cells. Certain human cell strains used for vaccine manufacturing can be cultivated long-term in labs, supporting the growth of human-infecting viruses reliably. Vaccines derived from these strains have demonstrated safety for humans. For decades, two distinct human diploid cell cultures from fetuses have been pivotal in vaccine production. WI-38 originated from lung cells of a 3-month female fetus, and MRC-5 from a 14-week male fetus. Although intentionally aborted, the abortions were not induced by the cellular biologists who developed the cell cultures. These cell strains have been cultivated in labs for over 35 years, contributing to millions of vaccine doses against chickenpox, rubella, rabies, and hepatitis A.

Rubella virus typically causes mild illness in children but can severely harm a fetus if the mother is infected during pregnancy. The rubella vaccine in the US was derived from tissues obtained during an abortion of a rubella-infected mother. The abortion was not for virus isolation but due to the risk of severe birth defects from the wild rubella virus infection. The isolated rubella strain (RA27/3) has been cultured in labs, eliminating the need for additional fetal cells to sustain the production of attenuated rubella viruses for vaccine batches.Ella vaccine for the future.

Before the widespread use of the rubella vaccine, there were hundreds of thousands of rubella cases in the United States and over 800 cases of congenital rubella per year. Following the rubella epidemic of 1963—1964, an estimated 20,000 infants were born with congenital defects, along with 6,250 spontaneous abortions and 5,000 induced abortions due to severe birth defects. In 2001, the CDC reported only 3 babies born with congenital rubella syndrome. Therefore, the RA27/3 rubella vaccine has prevented numerous spontaneous and induced abortions by safeguarding pregnant women from infection.

It is important for Christians to continue encouraging pharmaceutical companies to explore alternatives to developing vaccines associated with human fetuses. Nevertheless, in the absence of viable alternatives, these vaccines can be used to prevent not only serious risks to children but also as a public health measure to avoid the unintentional spread of harmful viruses to pregnant women, thereby reducing the risk of birth defects and spontaneous miscarriages.