Moral Implications of Human Fetal Cell Lines in Vaccine Production
One commonly cited reason for claiming a religious vaccine exemption has to do with the fact that some vaccines are made using aborted fetal cell lines. As reported in an April 26, 2019, article in Christianity Today:1 For certain Christians, the decision of whether to vaccinate comes down to the origins of the vaccines themselves. Some […]
Illinois Mandates Insurance Coverage for EpiPens
Illinois has become the first state to pass a law requiring health insurance companies to cover the cost of medically necessary EpiPen injectors. This is big news in an era when so many families face the daily threat of a potentially deadly allergic reaction. Signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker, the new law will take effect […]
Scientists Find Chronic Brain Inflammation in Children With Autism
Story Highlights A new study out of Tufts University suggests that inflammation may be the “main driver” in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Chronic inflammation, of the brain and the gut, have long been recognized as playing a role in ASD, though the relationships played by each remain unsettled. ASD, along with many […]
New Herpes Vaccine Nearing Human Clinical Trials
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently reported that they are close to developing a herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) vaccine for humans. HSV-2 primarily causes genital herpes and is contracted through forms of sexual contact with a person who has HSV-2. An estimated 14 percent of Americans between the ages of 15 and 49 […]
Parents and Doctors Debate on Vaccinations
Stephanie Stock is a working mom of two boys in northeast Ohio. She’s also a mom who now chooses not to vaccinate both boys. My oldest son, he had a vaccine reaction at four months, and my doctor told me… oh, you know, it was a coincidence, these things happen sometimes. I knew something was […]
Bodily Autonomy and Halacha
Opinion | Is bodily autonomy a Jewish value? Freedom of movement and personal choice is at the very core of liberty. The verse etched on our Liberty Bell is a direct quote from Levitcus 25:10 – “You shall proclaim liberty throughout the land” (on the Jubilee year). “Liberty – דרור” is defined by Rashi to mean “one […]
