Immunizations

A few fellow WELS members in our church choose not to immunize their children. I have some concerns because we have a Christian day school and my children also attend there. Some of the members who choose not to immunize have made their beliefs public and one even went as far as using a website that says God does not want us to immunize. This website states that immunizations contain fetal parts from aborted fetuses. I am wondering if there is any direction from the WELS about immunizations? Thanks.

What I can do is refer you to the web site of Christian Life Resources.  Searching “vaccination” and “immunization” will yield numerous results of reading material.

Additionally, I can pass along the response to a previous question on this topic before I began service as the responder to questions.  The question submitted was:  “Is there anything stated in the Bible on vaccines? Some say that things that are added to some of these vaccines could be harmful. Is there anything in the Bible that helps us decide whether it is right or wrong to vaccinate our children?”

The response was:  “Vaccinations did not occur until the end of the 18th century so it is not spoken of directly in Scripture.  Scripture does provide principles that guide our view of vaccinations.

“Four objections to vaccinations are commonly raised:

“Objection # 1: Vaccinations represent a failure to trust the providence of God as the Great Physician and Protector.
Yes, we are to trust God (John 14:1), but we are also to be responsible stewards of God’s blessings (Matthew 25:31ff; Romans 2:6; 14:12).  Vaccinations are one way we protect our lives.  In the same way we protect our lives by looking both ways before crossing the street.  We make decisions and take precautions to keep our lives and the lives of others safe.  Does looking both ways represent no trust in God?  Of course not!

“We make reasonable efforts to protect God’s blessing of life.   If deemed safe and effective, vaccinations would be such a reasonable effort.  Furthermore, as the Christian reflects his greater concern for others (Philippians 2:3-4) he or she will want to weigh the potential danger to others of contracting a disease or illness because we chose not to be vaccinated.

“Objection # 2: Immunizations were unethically developed.
It seems fairly certain that some immunization were unethically developed and/or tested.  For example, evidence suggests that the vaccines for Hepatitis A, chicken pox and MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) were cultured in cells taken from children aborted in the 1960s.  The concern is that by availing oneself of such an unethically developed vaccine we condone or lend credibility to the unethical way it was developed.

“Scripture teaches us that we are all sinful.  Our righteous acts are comparable to filthy rags.  For that reason, sin is a component in the development of anything in our world.  A house may have been built 50 years ago by a builder who cheated a subcontractor out of some money.  Do we see living in that house 50 years later as condoning the dishonesty?  Our automobile may have been designed by stealing secrets from another manufacturer years ago.  Can we now not drive that vehicle?

“Sin taints everything in this world.  The solution is not to cut ourselves off from all things but rather to work to right the wrongs.  If vaccines were developed unethically, Christians will want to get into positions of influence to stop such unethical research.  Speak against the sin not the results.  If you cut yourself off from anything touched by sin what then do we have that has never been touched by sin?

“Objection # 3: Immunizations can be dangerous.
In most developed countries there are regulations requiring strict testing to assure the safety of vaccinations.  Yet, there always seems to be exceptions.  Thousands of people may have no negative effects from a vaccine and then someone gets seriously ill or dies from the same vaccine.  Ever since statistical analysis caught foothold back in the early 1800s people “play the odds” on the safety of things.  How safe is driving, flying, sailing and walking?  Everything has an element of danger.  Christian freedom affords latitude for making such judgments on the relative safety of a vaccine.  In this country statistics usually demonstrate a vaccine to be very safe before it goes to market.  If you have an acquaintance, however, who had trouble with a particular vaccine your judgment will be skewed.  In an imperfect world there is always the possibility of an error.  Use your best judgment.

“Objection # 4: Immunizations can encourage irresponsible lifestyles.
In 2007 the Texas governor ordered all girls entering the sixth grade to have the HPV vaccine.  The vaccine prevents the HPV virus which is a sexually transmitted infection that can lead to cervical cancer.  The concern some people had was whether giving the vaccine to a young girl would encourage promiscuity.  Will immunization enable ‘safe sinning?’

“Sinful people have an uncanny ability to twist what were meant as blessings into something reckless or sinful.  We take more risks when we have a safety net or harness.  We place our lives at greater risk if we feel we have a better car, better boat or better safety gear.

“As God provides ways to preserves our lives and well-being, those methods are genuine blessings.  Hearts devoted to God receive those blessings with thankfulness and purity.  Our sinful nature, however, will continue to find ways to corrupt God’s blessings for selfish pursuits.  We appreciate God’s blessings and we use His Word to hold the line on our wayward tendencies.”