The Vegan View

What is the vegan opinion on animal byproducts for medical puposes? The best examples I can think of would be bone grafts and vaccines. Some bone graft materials are bovine and porcine. Many vaccines contain animal products. Do you abstain from these things?

VegFamily readers reply:

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Dr. Marion:
I would abstain from medical products containing animal by-products. I haven't had the situation arise where I am faced with the choice, but if it does, I will ask for nonanimal alternatives. I have often wondered about insulin or heparin (both I think from pigs). Years ago I took Premarin (from horse's urine), which I would never do now. I also would not want a organ transplant from an ape. I don't see myself as being more important than any other being.

Linderella:
I have been vegan for many years and do not take any vaccines or medical treatments or prescriptions that use any animal products/byproducts. I am healthy so don't have any hard decisions to make about this. I think everyone has to make these decisions for themselves, however, to say you are vegan and then use animal products in any way makes no sense. Just don't claim to be vegan and then go against it. Just stick with saying you are a vegetarian who tries to be vegan but can't always do it. That would be more honest.

Robin:
I don't vaccinate my children for a number of reasons. When they are old enough to make their own decisions, they can choose to self-vaccinate or not.

Shannon:
Excellent question. I now must respond with one: Is the only option available, to use any animal by-products? Or has it just been considered 'the norm' in medicine to use whatever is available, derived from the quickest method possible. Might it be, that the combination of incredible minds use their abilities to work together and find other possible sources.

Jeffery:
I would probably submit to a bonegraff of animal origin if it was considered lifesav

Tiia:
To start with, vaccine makes your body think you've already had whatever the disease you vaccinated yourself against, and that is not natural for a healthy body.My partner has travelled the world from the jungles of Borneo to rivers of Brazil and has never been vaccinated. Living proof you can survive without. I don't wanna inject animal products into my system just because I'm scared i might catch something somewhere along the line.

Mandy:
I'm asthmatic, my husband has Fabry Disease, we both depend on treatments that may contain animal products or have been tested on animals. Whenever possible I choose vegan options but life is full of compromises. I am dependant on my medication but by eating a healthy vegan diet I can reduce the need for medication. Instead of worrying about my ethical consistency I make regular donations to organisations like the Dr Hadwin Trust who actively fund and search for ways to reduce animal testing in medical research.

Sylvia:
Anyone with half a brain knows that there is a lot more problems with vaccines other than simply not being vegan! I would NEVER inject my children who I love dearly with a live virus, formeldehyde, mercury, and other poisons that are toxic and dangerous. There are always much better, safer, more ethical solutions

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