New York State has recently passed a law that requires all health care providers to receive the regular influenza vaccine this year, as well as the H1N1 strain when it becomes available. Many of the workers required to get the immunization are upset, arguing that it violates their rights. Rallying behind the workers are many anti-vaccine groups, including the vegan community.
There are about three million vegans in the United States. That is, three million people who do not ingest anything containing animal byproducts nor do they use anything made from or tested on animals. This poses a major problem for those vegans required to receive the flu vaccine this season. All vaccines are tested on animals before human trials and many contain ingredients derived from animals. According to the Center for Disease Control, all but one of the different influenza vaccines has an egg derivative in it. For Cynthia Mosher, editor and publisher of Veg Family magazine, getting herself and her family vaccinated is not even an option.
“Vaccines are tested on animals,” she said. “They also contain human and animal tissue.”
Ms. Mosher is a vegan who started the online magazine Veg Family in order to help parents and families living a vegan lifestyle. In her opinion, this lifestyle includes not getting any vaccinations.
“Some vegans do go against their beliefs if the benefit outweighs the harm, but personally, I do not feel immunizations should be required nor do I feel they are worth it,” she said. In response to states across the country requiring flu shots, she said: “Health care choices should be a personal and parental decision, not government enforced.” Jill Renaud however, disagrees.
“I mean, you should never force anyone to do anything, but I feel like if you’re in a high risk job as it is, you should get vaccinated.”
In her sophomore year of college, Ms. Renaud joined the First Aid Squad. As a result, she ended up being vaccinated for hepatitis B and meningitis despite her aversion to doctors and her veganism. “It wasn’t absolutely mandated, I could have waived out of it, but it made sense to do so,” she said. She believes that it makes sense for the health care workers to get flu shots, no matter what their religion or lifestyle. “They’re in contact with so many sick patients that they’re in a high risk of getting infected.” The only exception she sees with it is when it will undoubtedly do more harm to the person than good.
There are ways out of receiving mandatory vaccinations. People may fill out forms indicating a category that prevents them from fulfilling the requirement. First, there is the medical exemption Ms. Renaud described. If a person has an allergy to an ingredient in the required vaccine, he or she does not have to get it. Those that do have a non-life threatening allergy to an ingredient in the flu shot may opt to receive it in two separate doses. This is what Ms. Renaud said she would do if a situation arises where she will need to get it. “My co-worker is allergic to egg too,” she said. “He just gets half of a flu shot at a time and it’s fine. I could probably do that.”
There is also the religious exemption, though there is no law in New York that says this may be an option. Finally, there is the philosophical exemption. One who fills out this waiver rejects vaccination because of his or her personal beliefs and values. Vegans would be able to claim philosophical exemption. However, the exemption is currently only available in 17 states, and New York is not one of them.
Ms. Renaud thinks that if states will allow religion to be a legitimate reason to be exempt, then so should being vegan. Although she believes the only good reason not to be given mandatory vaccines would be a medical excuse, she knows that this is unrealistic. Given the current rules, she said: “I would consider veganism a legitimate reason because you can waive because of religion, and a lot of people adhere to their religions much less strictly than some vegans adhere to their veganism.” Ms. Mosher says that beyond claiming either a religious or a medical excuse, she would also hire some lawyers.
“If my job required me to be vaccinated I would probably seek legal recourse,” she said. “The same for my child and a school required vaccine.”
When asked what she would do if New York started requiring public school teachers to get the H1N1 vaccine, Ms. Renaud replied: “I would probably just get it. I’m a lover, not a fighter.” Spoken in the true spirit of veganism, Jill.