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Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca Making Coronavirus Vaccines Using Cells From Aborted Babies

6/15/2020

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By Micaiah Bilger - LifeNews.com

At least two possible coronavirus vaccines that are on a fast track for development use cell lines from aborted babies.

Despite a strong outcry from pro-life and Catholic leaders and despite ethical alternatives being available, a number of research teams still are using the cells from aborted babies in their work, Newsweek reports.

These include Janssen Research & Development USA, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, and the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, which could be the first to make a coronavirus vaccine available in the United States, according to the report.

Both research groups are on a Trump administration short-list for funding to develop a coronavirus vaccine by January 2021, the report states.

Other researchers also using cell lines from aborted babies include CanSino Biologics, Inc. and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology and the University of Pittsburgh, Science reports.

Some are using a cell line from a baby who was aborted sometime around 1972, while others are using one from a baby who was aborted in 1985, according to the report.

As the report explains:

Decades-old fetal cell lines are already used to make a number of common vaccines, including against chickenpox, shingles, Hepatitis A and Rubella. A cell line is the term used to describe a culture of animal cells, in this case taken from fetuses, that can be cultivated repeatedly in a lab. The relatively common technique sees viruses grown in the cells, as the bugs aren’t alive and need a host to replicate.

​According to Dr. Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who was not involved in the protests, this results in vaccines created using this method containing residual or “very, small, small, small quantities of trace DNA” from the original fetuses.

University of Pittsburgh researcher Andrea Gambotto said the cell lines from aborted babies are more useful than ethically-derived sources.

“Cultured [nonhuman] animal cells can produce the same proteins, but they would be decorated with different sugar molecules, which—in the case of vaccines—runs the risk of failing to evoke a robust and specific immune response,” Gambotto said.

But other scientists disagree. Earlier this year, the Charlotte Lozier Institute identified 60 potential treatments for the virus that are being investigated using materials that do not come from aborted babies.
Respected researchers Drs. James L. Sherley, MD, PhD and David A. Prentice, PhD recently reviewed the vaccines in development for the coronavirus and published a list identifying which are being made ethically and unethically. They found at least 10 companies that are not using cell lines from aborted babies in their vaccines.

Pro-life leaders also have highlighted how ethical alternatives to cell lines from aborted babies are available, including pluripotent stem cells and tissue from placentas, umbilical cords and amniotic fluid. In 2018, the Trump administration created a $20 million grant to invest in these ethical research alternatives.

Catholic and pro-life organizations have been advocating against research using aborted baby body parts for years. During the coronavirus crisis, they have renewed calls to scientists to abide by basic ethical standards in their efforts to save lives.
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According to the Catholic News Agency, a Canadian Catholic archbishop recently took his pro-life advocacy a step further by donating thousands of dollars to an ethical vaccine research project at the University of British Columbia.

Earlier this spring, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sent a letter urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure vaccines are being produced ethically.

“… we think it’s very important at this moment to let the voice not only of the Church but other concerned citizens to voice that we want to—we all want a vaccine, we realize that’s important for our public health, but we also want a vaccine that has no ethical problems in the way it’s developed,” said Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, earlier this spring.

​SOURCE:  LifeNews.com









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LEARN HOW TO KEEP COOL AND STAY SAFE

6/15/2020

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Temperatures are rising. Check out these energy efficient tips for keeping cool at home, as well as information for summer and wildfire safety. 

Energy tips
  1. Block heat from the sun: During the hottest hours of the day, cover windows to block the sun’s heat. Opening windows in the evening can help your home cool back down.
  2. Use ceiling fans: Ceiling fans are an efficient way to cool your home.
  3. Maintain your air conditioner: Follow manufacturer instructions for maintaining your air conditioning unit to ensure it’s operating efficiently. Change the filter every 1-2 months.
  4. Turn down your water heater by a few degrees: Many water heaters are set higher than the temperature we actually use. Reducing this by a few degrees can reduce your energy costs.
  5. DIY Project/Weatherproof your home: Weather strip and caulk drafty windows and doors to keep cool air in and warm air out.

If you’re on a Time-of-Use pricing plan, remember that shifting some energy use outside the hours of 4-9 p.m. can also result in savings on your energy bill. Regardless of your payment plan, if you’re worried about spikes in your energy bill during the summer, consider  signing up for SDG&E’s Level Pay program. It averages your costs throughout the year, making your energy bill more predictable and easier to budget for. Learn more at sdge.com/lpp.

 Summer Safety
  1. Don’t chain or overload power strips: We know spending more time at home, especially when it’s hot, can lead to the need to plug in many devices. Be mindful of how many devices you plug in and never chain power strips together. Both can result in fire danger.
  2. Use air conditioners safely: Avoid plugging air conditioners into extension cords or power strips. Always keep the area around your air conditioning unit clear of anything that could easily catch fire.
  3. Clean clothes dryer vents and lint filters thoroughly: Cleaning dryer vents and lint filters not only help your machine run more efficiently, it also mitigates fire danger; a buildup of lint inside your dryer can be a fire risk.

Following home safety tips for fire prevention is a great first step to keep your home and family safe. Remember to prepare an emergency plan if a fire or other emergency happens in your area. You can find checklists to help make sure you and your loved ones are prepared at sdge.com/checklists.

SDG&E is committed to helping you stay safe and informed throughout the year. For more information on summer safety, efficiency tips and available programs to help with your summer energy costs, visit sdge.com/summer.

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    Author/Editor

    Sharon Pearce has served as the Director of Silent Voices since 1984, and has dedicated her life to speaking up for the unborn - and for the women who have been hurt by abortion.

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