Ghanim al-Sulaiti
It’s the topic dominating conversations around the world as countries begin to start the – so far optional – vaccination campaign against the Covid-19.
Since all medications currently go through animal testing and animal products are commonly used in their manufacturing, decisions around taking medication can be complex for vegans. Many vegans find compromising their beliefs in this way to distressing, but the truth is it has never been more important for us to talk about the definition of veganism in the context of medications, including vaccines.
The definition of veganism recognises that it is not always possible or practicable to avoid animal use, which is particularly relevant to medical situations.
In the case of Covid-19, scientists (and world leaders) recognise that vaccination will play a fundamental role in tackling the pandemic and saving lives. As all vaccines currently are tested on animals, at this stage it is impossible to have a vaccine that has been created without animal use.
At the end of the day, as there is no plan for compulsory vaccination, it is the responsibility of each individual to make an informed decision about vaccines, bearing in mind the definition of veganism, and your own beliefs, while respecting the science.
It’s a sensitive subject. UK media reported that Pfizer and BioNTech, the big pharma companies behind the vaccine, have treated monkeys and mice with contempt. While their human researchers have been protected with elaborate PPE, the animals in their care have been trapped and deliberately infected. Some were injected with an inoculation first and some weren’t.
Everyone wants to see the back of Covid-19 but with vegan beliefs, or as a strict vegan, should we accept a jab that’s the result of animal cruelty? Again, it’s a personal consideration, and much of the world agree that it should only be made by the individual.
There is evidence that most epidemics and pandemics, including Covid-19, have actually been caused by humans exploiting animals. In August, a white paper found that nearly every major ‘zoonotic’ disease (an infectious disease that is transmitted between species from animals to humans’ outbreak) – such as Covid – over the last 120 years is linked to animal exploitation, including mass meat consumption.
The human cost is huge: even before Covid-19, two million people were dying from these kinds of diseases each year, as a result of exploiting animals, and the spill over that occurs from animal to human.
A separate report from the UN said the number of zoonotic epidemics – the ones that can be transmitted from animals to people – is rising, from Ebola to Sars to West Nile virus and Rift Valley fever.
The authors warned that although the world is treating the health and economic symptoms of this coronavirus pandemic, governments are ignoring the root causes: humans’ destruction of nature and meat eating. We need to wake up. Since it was exploiting animals that got us into this mess, it’s both immoral and ill-advised to continue to exploit more animals now, and we need educating about this in order to reduce pandemics, respect animals, and live healthier, longer lives as a global population.
* The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92
