A Question For Jewish Moms

[Gitti]

I was just wondering, are vaccines considered KOSHER?

Maybe it doesn't matter at all, (just a silly question)....but I mean they are loaded with all sort of dirt....

[CrazyRED]

Interesting question. I had never thought about this before.

[aira]

I know nothing about kosher.

But I figure that when the rules were laid out, the people then would never have imagined that materials and preparation methods that are used in vaccines. Would they have known to address aluminum, fetal tissue, formaldehyde?

What about the combinations and cooking menthods?

:

In any case, I can't imagine how they would hold up to any old-world standard of health-promoting "food"...

Again, pure speculation on my part - I know nothing about it. But I cannot fathom that they pass the muster.

[HeatherHeather]

Here's how I understand it. Most (if not all) vaccines contain ingredients that are not kosher. However, the vaccine(s) are not considered "unkosher" unless they are eaten. So the oral polio vaccine would NOT be kosher (contains monkey cells), but all injectable vaccines are ok. I don't know about the oral rotavirus vaccine. That being said, if any vaccine contained both milk and meat product, it would be NOT kosher. I don't know of any vaccine that contains milk product, so this is a null point.

[aira]

Well, that makes sense.

As long as they go straight into the blood - which is supposed to remain sterile...