Since 1979, Merck Vaccine Division (Merck and Co., Sunneytown Pike, P.O.
Box 4, West Point, PA 19486-0004, Phone 908-423-1000), has produced the
only licensed Rubella (German Measles) vaccine, RA27/3. The vaccine virus was
originally derived from an aborted baby during the 1964 rubella epidemic when
some mothers were advised to have abortions. It was the 27th fetus that was
surgically removed and immediately dissected that the rubella virus was finally
found. This is what RA27/3 means: R=rubella, A=abortus, 27=27th fetus,
3=third tissue culture explant (from the baby’s kidney).

This vaccine virus is grown on a strain of human lung tissue, WI 38. The lung cells
(diploid) are from a female fetus approximately 3-month gestation. The abortion
was done for the mother because they, the parents, felt they had too many
children (American Journal Diseases of Children, Vol. 118, 1969).

This new vaccine was tested on orphans in Philadelphia (Amer J Dis Child, Vol.
110, Oct. 1965).

Rubella is basically a harmless childhood disease that confers life long immunity.
The greatest risk is to an unborn child. If the virus is contracted during the first
trimester of pregnancy, it is estimated 20% to 25% develop some form of
Congenital Rubella Syndrome (MDH). Therefore the most efficient and most cost
effective use of the vaccine would be to offer the vaccine to prepubescent females
who have not contracted the disease naturally ("Benefit-Cost Analysis of Rubella
Vaccination Policy," New England Journal of Medicine, Feb. 5, 1976). In
pre-vaccine era, only 15% of children in sixth grade had not developed natural
immunity to rubella ("Rubella Susceptibility in Sixth Graders," Pediatrics, 65, June
1980). Therefore only a small fraction of the population would possibly even
need this type of vaccine.

If you find this vaccine morally repulsive, demand a new rubella vaccine.

Christina Abel RN (Ret.)

Editors note :
According to information given to me by Pasteur Meriux in the UK all Rubella vaccines worldwide use the RA27/3 virus. However it is only  Japan that grows the virus on animal cell lines rather than human fetal ones to make vaccines. I have not checked this with the Japanese . I do not consider the use of the virus although obtained from an aborted baby as morally repugnant   as the continual 
growing of the actual cells of the aborted babies used in Rubella vaccines outside Japan.
Catherine Williams