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Archives | (July 2001)
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The Anthrax Vaccine: Making Our Soldiers Guinea Pigs Conclusion (cont.)
------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 7 of 8 What the officials were ignoring in their denials was the cumulative effect of squalene. While a single dose at such low levels might not be a problem, the anthrax vaccine is administered in a series of six shots over eighteen months. Therefore, each successive dose would have a greatly magnified impact on the immune system. Further, the FDA analysis was not the only evidence of squalene. A study conducted at Tulane University on the presence of antibodies to squalene revealed a deeply disturbing pattern. The study examined blood samples from 144 Gulf War era veterans or military employees, 48 blood donors, 40 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 34 patients with silicone breast implants and 30 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. The study employed a “blinded” test – the gold standard in research – to determine if squalene antibodies were present. What the researchers found was that 95percent of the Gulf War veterans suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome had antibodies to squalene, but that none of the Gulf War veterans who were healthy did. Moreover, only 5 percent of the blood donors had the antibodies, and only 10 percent of the patients with SLE or breast implants. Some 15 percent of the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome who were not Gulf War vets also had the antibody. And what is DOD’s response to the mounting body of evidence? It says it needs to develop a test for antibodies to squalene, but its development could take "several years.” Meanwhile, it is proceeding with anthrax vaccinations because they are necessary to protect the troops. But is vaccination the only answer? OTHER ALTERNATIVESThe anthrax laden letter attacks that followed the destruction of the World Trade Center created a new sense of urgency regarding biological warfare. But the attacks also made clear the fact that vaccination was not the only answer. First of all, at least some of the five deaths tied to the attacks could have been avoided if medical personnel were more familiar with the symptoms of inhalation anthrax. It’s not surprising that they did not immediately recognize the disease, prior to the first death in Florida, there had not been a case of inhalation anthrax in the United States for three decades. Several of the other deaths were also ascribed to a failure to recognize the symptoms on the part of emergency room personnel who had never seen the disease. |
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