Vaccine dangerous: US expert

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,5977874%255E421,00.html

13 feb03

THE anthrax vaccine is dangerous and troops should not be compelled to take it, an American expert has said.

Eleven Australian troops who were deployed to the Middle East are already heading home after refusing to take the vaccine.

Meryl Nass, of the US Vaccine Advisory Board, said today it had been linked in three separate studies to Gulf War Syndrome.

"In particular the anthrax vaccine is dangerous," she told Channel 9.

"People who take it and give it should be well aware of the risk-benefit analysis before they go ahead and get themselves injected.

"What we do know is that there is a high rate of initial reaction and in the Gulf War population, there's a high rate of chronic disease."

Ms Nass argued that vaccinating troops against anthrax provided some deterrent, but also invited the enemy to use other biological or chemical weapons.

"If you vaccinate your troops all that does is invite the enemy to choose a different agent to use against you if that's what their plan is," she said.

Defence Minister Robert Hill has insisted the vaccine is perfectly safe.

He said he would take it if he had to visit the troops during their deployment.