
Audio By Carbonatix
A US teenager who took legal action against his school after he was banned for refusing the chickenpox vaccination now has the virus, his lawyer says.Jerome Kunkel, 18, made headlines last month after he unsuccessfully sued his Kentucky school for barring unimmunised students amid an outbreak.His lawyer, Christopher Weist, told US media that the teen's symptoms developed last week.The student had opposed the vaccine on religious grounds.His lawsuit argued the vaccine is "immoral, illegal and sinful" and that his rights had been violated.The ban from his school, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart/Assumption Academy in Walton, came during an outbreak that sickened at least 32 pupils.Mr Weist told NBC News his young client did not regret his decision to remain unvaccinated."These are deeply held religious beliefs, they're sincerely held beliefs," Mr Wiest said."From their perspective, they always recognised they were running the risk of getting it, and they were OK with it."The Northern Kentucky Health Department excluded unvaccinated students from classes and extracurricular activities from 14 March.A Kentucky judge sided with the health department in April, saying the 18-year-old did not have a right to play sports.The teenager's father, Bill Kunkel, said the vaccines were derived from aborted foetuses, which went against his family's religious beliefs.Some viruses used to make vaccines are grown with cells descended from matter that was sourced from two human foetuses electively aborted in the 1960s.
Image caption: As part of the ban, Mr Kunkel was barred from playing school basketballBut no new human cells have been used since then to produce vaccines, according to health authorities and drug manufacturers.The Catholic Church has told its members it is morally justifiable to use these vaccines, though it wants alternative treatments developed without "using cell lines of illicit origin".Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus that causes blisters, itching and fever, though it is generally not fatal.Before a vaccine was created, about four millions Americans caught the disease each year, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Now only around 12,000 people catch it each year.
Image caption: As part of the ban, Mr Kunkel was barred from playing school basketballBut no new human cells have been used since then to produce vaccines, according to health authorities and drug manufacturers.The Catholic Church has told its members it is morally justifiable to use these vaccines, though it wants alternative treatments developed without "using cell lines of illicit origin".Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus that causes blisters, itching and fever, though it is generally not fatal.Before a vaccine was created, about four millions Americans caught the disease each year, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.Now only around 12,000 people catch it each year.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
National clean-up must not end today – Bui Power Authority boss
2 minutes -
GRA locks up warehouse over failure to register for electronic tax system
8 minutes -
Man fatally shot by ICE in Houston was not intended target, DHS says
18 minutes -
Weija Children’s Hospital contractor picked up by EOCO after meeting with Health Minister
21 minutes -
Fallen tree blocks 37 Hospital road as NADMO responds to affected vehicles
55 minutes -
PURC resolves 97% of utility complaints in Western and Western North regions
1 hour -
Mahama commissions upgraded cardiac centre at Korle Bu under Ghana Medical Trust Fund
1 hour -
GAVA pays glowing tribute to Guinness World Record holder Sharon Dede Padi
1 hour -
Speak up against wrongdoing, resist building in waterways – Dzifa Gomashie urges public
1 hour -
Karpowership supports national clean-up exercise with sanitation equipment donation to EKMA
1 hour -
Photos: IGP, Police officers join nationwide clean-up exercise to promote sanitation
1 hour -
A citizen’s prayer to Julius Debrah
1 hour -
Air pollution costs Ghana nearly $2 billion annually — Clean Air Fund
1 hour -
Ohemaa Mercy, Joe Beecham, MOGmusic, others to minister at Born to Prophesy 2026
2 hours -
‘I didn’t resign’ – Queiroz shoots down Black Stars resignation reports
2 hours