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Archives | (July 2001)
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The Anthrax Vaccine: Making Our Soldiers Guinea Pigs Conclusion
------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 1 of 8 Two hundred years ago the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence pledging their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the creation of the cause of freedom. This pledge was no mere flight of rhetoric: many paid a heavy price for their courage as did countless average citizen-soldiers who rallied to freedom’s cause. Their willingness to put nation above self set an example that that became ingrained in our national character. Time and time again over the past two centuries, when our nation was in jeopardy, new generations of America’s citizen-soldiers answered the call. This tradition of patriotism and self-sacrifice remains as strong today as it was during the terrible winter at Valley Forge. From the rugged mountains of Afghanistan to the searing deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, our brave young men and women are once again placing themselves in harm’s way. But as they prepare to risk their lives for freedom abroad, serious questions are being raised as to whether they are being forced to face an unnecessary risk from home: the risk associated with the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program or AVIP. As previously discussed in this series, the anthrax vaccine has been fraught with controversy from the beginning. Bioport Inc., the product’s sole manufacturer has had a troubled history, characterized by failures to meet FDA safe manufacturing process rules, questionable financial dealings and strong suspicions of conflicts of interest. Issues concerning the safety of the vaccine have been swept under the rug by Department of Defense officials unwilling or unable to recognize that a problem might exist. Data that challenged the safety and effectiveness of the anthrax vaccine has been misrepresented or misinterpreted. Highly qualified experts on vaccines who attempted to raise safety issues were dismissed out of hand or accused of fostering “Internet propaganda.” In short, there is a real question as to whether the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program is in the best interests of the service men and women it is supposed to protect. One thing is clear, however, many of the sailors, soldiers and airmen who are being forced to take the anthrax vaccine certainly don’t think so. |
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