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Anthrax Vaccine Under Fire

© Maggie Herman

A number of military personnel undergo an extensive course of vaccination to guard against the anthrax vaccine when they are deployed to areas where exposure to the bacteria is great or where the chance of exposure is created through clinical settings. However, a number of active duty and former military personnel are urging the Department of Defense (DOD) to discontinue administration of the vaccine because it has been allegedly linked to a number of adverse side effects.

According to a number of current and former military personnel that testified at a public meeting before two Institute of Medicine committees convened to review the safety and efficacy of its use, the vaccine has been linked to a number of adverse side effects that reportedly increase in severity over the course of the vaccine's administration. The current vaccination schedule requires a series of six shoots over the course of months. According to those who testified, the vaccination has caused blackouts, chronic joint pain, dizziness, memory loss, mood swings, and reproductive problems. One participant testified that the vaccine fatally injured her sister.

Another participant, Jeanne Tanner, conducted a study at Dover Air Force Base from which she concluded that many military personnel at that base who were inoculated with the vaccine, developed serious, chronic health problems. These included vomiting, diarrhea, fever, tenderness of the spleen, cognitive problems, joint and muscle aches, weakness, and numbness.

In addition to adverse reports from service members, a number of doctors and public health organizations have also voiced concerns. Dr. Meryl Nass of Parkview Hospital in Maine believes that the vaccine may be linked to Gulf War Illness and other related ailments. Nass estimates that as many as 7 percent of the inoculees suffer serious side effects. Nass cautions that autoimmune deficiencies seem to increase the likelihood that one will suffer adverse side effects following vaccination. Various public health organizations have issued warnings about the vaccine or voiced concerns as well, including the American Public Health Association, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, the American Legion, Doctors for Disaster Preparedness, and the National Organization of Americans Battling Unnecessary Servicemember Endangerment (NO ABUSE).

The DOD maintains that the vaccine has not been linked to serious long-term side effects. The agency reports that approximately 30 percent of men and 60 percent of women report swelling and lumps at the site of injection following vaccination. Another 5 to 35 percent report muscle and joint aches, chills, fever, headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, general malaise, and other flu-like symptoms. Some military service members believe that the numbers of adverse reports are much lower than actual adverse incidents because many military members do not know about the channels for reporting problems and are afraid that they will be viewed as trouble makers for raising the issue.

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