Measles are making a comeback, so what does the Church teach about vaccines?
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triumphguy
Guest
The Church teaches that our intellects are a gift from God, and the fruits of our intellects are good.
Therefore, since vaccines work. we should use them.
And not using vaccines puts many people at risk of dangerous life-changing, life-limiting diseases.
Therefore, since vaccines work. we should use them.
And not using vaccines puts many people at risk of dangerous life-changing, life-limiting diseases.
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ChurchSoldier
Guest
Do the research, make the decision and act on it. It is a personal decision without moral or theological repercussions.
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DaveBj
Guest
. . . unless one decides not to have his/her children vaccinated, and then they catch the disease and their lives (and the lives of those with whom they come into contact) are put in jeopardy.
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PaulfromIowa
Guest
Deliberately exposing innocent children to potentially fatal diseases has no moral repercussions?!
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ProdglArchitect
Guest
If your intent in withholding a vaccine was to purposefully expose your child to the virus, then it would be morally wrong. If, however, there are other reasons you chose not to vaccinate your child, they would not automatically be morally wrong. It would depend entirely on your reasons.
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AnnArbor
Guest
Well … no. That was actually the point of the article.
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FreeEver
Guest
Unless a Catholic infant/child for medical reasons (documented by a physician) contraindicates the particular vaccine (s), a parent/guardian is obligated to adhere to the State School Immunization requirements. (Note: The federal government **DOES NOT **require childhood/adult immunizations, with the exception of military personnel and instances involving legal immigrants.)
A Catholic parent/guardian is morally responsible for the protection for their infant/child. As well as, ensuring their infant/child does not infect others when a vaccine to prevent a communicable disease is available and is required by a State legislature. All 50 states and the U.S. territories require such immunizations to protect children and society.
God Bless and Peace to all.
A Catholic parent/guardian is morally responsible for the protection for their infant/child. As well as, ensuring their infant/child does not infect others when a vaccine to prevent a communicable disease is available and is required by a State legislature. All 50 states and the U.S. territories require such immunizations to protect children and society.
God Bless and Peace to all.
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FreeEver
Guest
Furthermore, this may occur where your child is not immunized and contracts a vaccine preventable disease and infects an infant unknowingly. During the later stages of the incubation period with some of these preventable diseases, symptoms are not prevalent; however, the individual is highly infectious.
E.g., the recommendation for administration of measles vaccine is 12 -15 months of age. Infants receiving the vaccine at less than 12 months of age have a significant vaccine failure rate. Should an unimmunized older child infect an infant, the medical consequences are severe for the infant. Complications may occur such as pneumonia (either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia),otitis media,acutebrain inflammation (and very rarely SSPE—subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), and corneal ulceration (leading to corneal scarring).
God Bless and Peace to all.
E.g., the recommendation for administration of measles vaccine is 12 -15 months of age. Infants receiving the vaccine at less than 12 months of age have a significant vaccine failure rate. Should an unimmunized older child infect an infant, the medical consequences are severe for the infant. Complications may occur such as pneumonia (either direct viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia),otitis media,acutebrain inflammation (and very rarely SSPE—subacute sclerosing panencephalitis), and corneal ulceration (leading to corneal scarring).
God Bless and Peace to all.
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cjforJesus
Guest
I don’t think they should have ever used cells from aborted babies to create vaccines.Perhaps there was another more moral alternative. The article does point out the fact that some people cannot get beyond the idea that the technology was developed using an immoral practice.
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AnnArbor
Guest
Although the means were immoral, I am glad they clarified that issue. I have met several people who have been very vocal in their beliefs that getting those vaccines is sinful. So instead they choose to risk the health of their own children, and the children with whom they come in contact.
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Colorad007
Guest
We don’t use the vaccines derived from aborted fetal cells (like the MMR) for our daughter, and we don’t do some of the others, either (flu) more out of practical considerations.
I am not sure how a Catholic can in good conscience use those. We, at least, cannot.
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Colorad007
Guest
No, not really. Efficacy is actually not the arbiter of moral norms in Catholic teaching. Just because something works doesn’t make it good. Dropping a nuclear bomb on Syria and Iraq would do wonders for the fight against ISIS, bit that doesn’t make it right.
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AnnArbor
Guest
I know a number of people who agree. That’s why I am so glad the article clarified that this is not Catholic teaching, and not a valid reason to avoid vaccination.
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acadiANNA
Guest
I had measles when I was 6 years old. I understand you can have it a second time. Supposedly, if you are in a room with someone who has measles, you can be infected up to 2 hours after the person has left the room.
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AnnArbor
Guest
Yes, it is really contagious. It’s particularly dangerous for infants, who cannot be vaccinated until they are a little older.
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cjforJesus
Guest
I don’t believe that the Catholic church has any teachings regarding the morality of vaccines. I personally think they are OK as long as they are guaranteed to cause harm to no one.
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cjforJesus
Guest
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Colorad007
Guest
You shouldn’t be making moral decisions based on a news article.
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AnnArbor
Guest
I’m not.
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