Dear Mr/Ms Hyde,

Thank you for your email of 12 June about MMR .  I have been asked to reply.

At present, the MRC-5 (diploid) cell line is used in the production of vaccines against the diseases of rubella, rabies and hepatitis A.  This cell line was derived from a single cell from one sample of foetal lung tissue obtained following a termination of a pregnancy for medical reasons in 1972.  The cell line results from multiple rounds of cell division from this original single cell.  The rigorous purification process during manufacture removes all trace of the cells in which the vaccines are grown and so the MMR vaccines do not contain human foetal tissue.

There is no question of any new human foetal tissue being used in making these vaccines.

Manufacturers have since introduced alternatives to the human diploid cells, where it can be proved that the vaccine is equally as effective and safe as the original vaccines.  However, an alternative safe and effective rubella, rabies or hepatitis A vaccine is not currently available.