23 December 2003

by Anai Rhoads
Veriana Media

The Department of Defense (DoD) plans to inoculate 2.4 million active duty personnel against Anthrax. The estimated cost is 0 million for the immunisations against the potentially dangerous bacterial disease. The once believed "preventative" therapy called for six injections of the dead bacteria over a period of 18 months, followed by annual booster shots.[1] So far an estimated 900,000 have been subjected to an illegal, yet mandatory, anthrax Inoculation enforced by the DoD.

United States District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan ruled Monday that the anthrax inoculation violated a 1998 law that forbids experimental drugs to be imposed without either the person's consent or signature by the Chief in Command. This ruling is especially important to the active duty military who refused the vaccine.

For filing against the Pentagon over the mandatory anthrax inoculations, an Air Force officer received a sixty day base restriction and was fined the sum of ,000. Another officer who filed along was pushed out of a fourteen year long military career.[2]

According to Public Health[3], the Anthrax vaccine was never proven to be safe. Vaccinees reported symptoms of dizziness, laboured breathing, muscle aches, fatigue and ongoing headaches which also resembled a host of Gulf War illnesses (Gulf War Syndrome). Without adequate evaluation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved changes to the BioCorp's vaccine composition several times since 1990.

Despite confirming possible harm to unborn babies, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) offered the vaccine to children and pregnant women. A 1996 U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) study revealed that out of thirty-five women given the vaccine only seven reportedly gave birth to healthy babies.

Bioport Corporation of Lansing, Michigan, formerly known as the Michigan Biologic Products Institute, received a lucrative million contract from the Pentagon to produce the vaccine.

Despite the fact that French soldiers during the Gulf War were not given the anthrax vaccine and do not exhibit any symptoms of GWS, many still debate whether or not the vaccine is truly to blame for syndrome.

Anthrax in a cutaneous form infects the skin and ulcerates. If ingested, it attacks the digestive system causing excessive vomiting and pain. Anthrax is most dangerous when it enters the respiratory system. An enemy may use it as a biological weapon, spreading it in powder form to be inhaled by the intended target.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA), there is no significant data connecting the vaccine with prevention of Anthrax's effects on the respiratory system. Experts state that the vaccine could never keep up with other biological agents, genetically engineered germs or anthrax permutations. Experts on germ warfare have little confidence in vaccines as a defence overall.

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References:

[1] Hearing on DoD's Mandatory Anthrax Vaccine Immunisation Programme

[2] Mandatory anthrax vaccine for troops challenged in court - Washington Times

[3] The Anthrax Vaccine Program: An Analysis of the CDC's Recommendations for Vaccine use. Nass Am J Public Health.2002; 92: 715-721.