The UK Vegan Society has issued a statement acknowledging the essential use of animals in Covid-19 vaccine development.
The Society acted after a debate on social media, about the use of monkeys and rodents in studies to develop the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine - approved for use in the UK last week - had led some vegans to denounce the vaccine.
While not asking members to take the vaccine the Vegan Society statement encouraged them to look after their own health, and stressed that animals play a fundamental role in the development of vaccines and other medicines.
“At this stage it is impossible to have a vaccine that has been created without animal use,” the society said.
It also reminded its members of the definition of veganism which ‘recognises that it is not always possible or practicable to avoid animal use, which is particularly relevant to medical situations’.