U.S. Barred From Forcing Troops to Get Anthrax Shots

[Ladybast]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3691-2004Oct27.html

U.S. Barred From Forcing Troops to Get Anthrax Shots

By Marc Kaufman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, October 28, 2004; Page A01

The Defense Department must immediately stop inoculating troops with anthrax vaccine, a federal judge ruled yesterday, saying that the Food and Drug Administration acted improperly when it approved the experimental injections for general use.

Concluding that the FDA violated its own rules by approving the vaccine late last year, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said the mandatory vaccination program -- which has inoculated more than 1.2 million troops since 1998 -- is "illegal."

Sullivan said that his ban on involuntary vaccination will remain in place until the FDA reviews the anthrax vaccine properly or until President Bush determines that the normal process must be waived because of emergency circumstances.

The Defense Department has required many troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to be vaccinated, and it has punished and sometimes court-martialed those who refused. The Pentagon expanded its anthrax and smallpox vaccination programs in July to include troops stationed in South Korea and other areas in Asia and Africa, despite complaints from some service members that the anthrax vaccine made them sick.

(more)

[efhmc]

1. So what happens now to those soldiers who refused to have them before

this ruling?

[benddem]

2. some soldiers and airmen

were court martialed and given dishonorable discharges. I hope they can collect back pay...maybe an apology.

[MADem]

3. Yeah, and what happens to those of us who

...are sick to this day from either those fucking shots or the DU (depleted uranium, not this website) or christ knows what else from the Gulf?

Assholes....they'll invoke Feres, and we're screwed, as usual.

[Stryguy]

4. It's not the Anthrax Shots.

It's not the Anthrax Shots.. It's the DU that made people sick. I know people who have the shots and have had boosters for 30+ years. Not one of them have ever had an adverse reaction.

However it's little mystery that DU floating around in the air for everyone to breath will screw you up something fierce.

[Massacure]

5. Either way, the shots still need to be tested before they get used.

[MADem]

6. Have a look at this article from the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/314010.stm
Blood tests on sick US veterans show that many produced high levels of antibodies against a substance called squalene.

Those veterans who had not complained of illness since the 1991 war did not produce antibodies.

This is considered normal, as the body does not contain enough squalene to provoke an immune response.

The researchers suggest that GWS is caused by the body turning its immune system against its own natural supply of squalene.

The findings are reported in New Scientist magazine.

[Calico Jack Rackham]

7. The Myth that

Anthrax shots did not cause any people to become sick is the biggest bunch of BS. I know of several people (including myself) who developed similar medical problems within 2-4 years of recieving Anthrax vaccines.

Do some research on it and you will see how many people have come down with IBS, severe insomnia, fibromylagia, and terrible joint pains. Many of these vets were never even exposed to DU but they did recieve Anthrax vaccines. I for one am damn glad that they've discontinued mandatory inoculation, I only wish I had the choice four years ago.