As one of several vaccine options thrown at the public, the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine was authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use on July 13. Five months prior to this announcement, Christianity Today was already reporting that the Novavax shot "could appeal to pro-life Christian skeptics," describing the vaccine as "the first without links to fetal-derived cell lines."
In an email to American Family News, a media spokesperson from Novavax also asserted: "No human fetal-derived cell lines or tissue, including HEK293 cells, are used in the development, manufacture or production of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373."
However, in an October 2020 Science journal entry, the bio lines of several co-authors of the scientific paper show direct associations with Novavax, Inc. Interestingly, the paper also revealed the use of "human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293F cells" in the vaccine's testing phase. And as reported by LifeSiteNews.com, the HEK293 cell line "was originally harvested from the kidney of an aborted baby girl in 1973."
AFN spoke to LTCLTC R. Davis Younts, an Air Force Reserve Judge Advocate General (JAG) who also represents several military clients in a private capacity as a civilian attorney. Younts shares that as a Christian, a military officer, and an attorney fighting for the rights of service members, he is frustrated with Christianity Today's "pro-vaccine" rhetoric.
For example, in May 2021, Christianity Today published an article by J. Todd Billings suggesting that "vaccine skeptics need a dose of creation theology." And coincidentally, this was directed at the "high proportion of white evangelicals" likely to refuse the jab.
"Arguably, they are pro anything related to the vaccines," says the attorney, referring to CT. He contends multiple other Christianity Today articles have been published, demonstrating the news outlet is not only pro-vaccine, but also "pro-mandate."
What's more, he points out, "there appear to be no articles favorable toward religious objectors to be found." Rather, he argues a reader will find the opposite: "They'll say something like You're not a good Christian if you don't love your neighbor by getting the vaccine."
Plaguing the military
According to the Air Force officer, the Pentagon's trust of professed Christians like Russell Moore (recently christened editor of Christianity Today) and Francis Collins (former director of the National Institutes of Health) has contributed to the muddling of facts about the Novavax vaccine.
"When the military rolled out this vaccine mandate, the Pentagon met with these people," he notes. "They were telling the military at the highest levels that there's no legitimate religious objection to these vaccines." As Younts told The Epoch Times, they are misleading service members.
Younts has concerns about the accuracy of public statements and reporting about Novavax, calling it "frustrating and deeply troubling." He is equally concerned about Moore and Collins, who he argues "side against people who are taking a taking a stand for their faith, [while also] facing a loss of jobs, livelihoods, and more because of their faith."
By his estimation, Christianity Today and others "are taking a stand against them."
Apparently, the Air Force is in step with their deception, according to Younts. He is alarmed by a guidance issued in July entitled "Bullet Background Paper on Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine" – which explicitly states: "No human fetal cell lines are used to manufacture, test, or produce Novavax vaccine."
That, says Younts, is a "bald-faced lie." Through court filings in Doster v. Kendall, the DoD, Air Force, and Department of Justice have been put on notice for what he considers a blatant misrepresentation of the Novavax vaccine.
The JAG officer emphasizes that his views do not reflect those of the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. AFN also contacted the Pentagon regarding the bullet background paper, to no avail.
