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1,200 Who Had Anthrax Vaccine Now 'Seriously' Ill
By Jeff Donaldson
Las Vegas Sun
6-19-5
More than 1,200 military personnel who received the anthrax vaccine
before going to Iraq have developed serious illnesses, according to an
Army report released last month, though local military officials
contend the shots still are safe and necessary.
Since 1991 and the first Gulf War, the Defense Department has required
service members to be immunized against such childhood diseases as
Typhoid and Hepatitis A as well as against biological agents such as
anthrax, when deploying to Korea or the Middle East.
But with Army officials reporting 1,200 illnesses and several thousand
more queries about potential side effects, the Defense Department has
started allowing troops deploying overseas to opt out of receiving the
anthrax vaccine without penalty, according to the Army and Air Force.
Maj. Brian Blalock, public health flight commander at Nellis Air Force
Base, said the anthrax shot is no longer mandatory for service members
who are willing to sign a waiver releasing the military from liability.
Still, the majority of service members elect to have the shot, he said.
"We've really not seen a big problem with anthrax -- nothing outside of
the normal range of side effects," Blalock said.
Roughly 30 percent of men, and 60 percent of women, who receive the
anthrax vaccine have some sort of minor reaction, such as swelling or a
small lump at the injection spot, Blalock said.
But the illnesses reported by the Army have been more severe. Initial
symptoms of the reported cases included minor diarrhea, cramping and
fever to more intense problems like sleep and memory loss, chronic
fatigue, headaches and chest pains.
Local numbers for service members affected are not available.
The national cases have been handled by the Vaccine Healthcare Centers,
which are located at several U.S. military bases, but are overseen by
the vaccination program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in
Washington D.C.
Despite the illnesses, Walter Reed officials contend that more than 1.3
million military and civilian personnel have received the vaccine since
1998 when the military began requiring members to receive a series of
six shots to guard them against the anthrax virus.
The hospital contends anthrax vaccinations are safe and more necessary
than ever, especially considering the threat of anthrax contamination
that hit several post offices and office buildings following Sept. 11.
"We're living in a completely different era. There are terrorists who
are intent on using biological agents and there are countries that
certainly have the capability," Blalock said.
The military shut down the anthrax vaccination program temporarily
prior to 1998 citing concerns about outdated versions of the shot. The
necessity of the shot has been a hot point of debate in Washington and
among soldiers' advocacy groups that contend illnesses from the vaccine
have put some members out of the service.
Medical officials hope that educating service members about the
benefits of getting the shots will encourage "across the board"
compliance. They contend there is insufficient information to quantify
the seriousness of illnesses resulting from the anthrax vaccine.
The Nevada National Guard, which routinely deploys members to Iraq and
Afghanistan to fight the global war on terror, still requires the
anthrax shot for soldiers and airmen going there or to Korea.
Spokeswoman Lt. April Conway said there have been no reported cases of
adverse reactions to the shots among Guard members, but there have been
some members who refused to have the vaccine.
"A couple years ago we had a few people who asked not to do it," Conway
said. "Their positions were filled by volunteers who were willing."
Though military budget concerns may force the closure of the Vaccine
Healthcare Centers which oversees assessment and treatment of
anthrax-based problems, Congress and the Food and Drug Administration
have approved an emergency use authorization to fund more of the
anthrax vaccine.
Citing a renewed threat of anthrax poisoning to U.S. forces overseas,
the Pentagon announced last month it would resume providing mass
anthrax vaccinations for service members deploying to Korea or
Southwest Asia.
While the debate about the seriousness of anthrax-related illnesses is
likely to get bogged down in the same discussion over such war-related
illnesses as Gulf War Syndrome, Blalock is among those who believe the
benefits far outweigh the cost.
"There are a lot of diseases out there -- very lethal, very deadly,"
Blalock said. "It really comes down to people making the best choice."
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