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Archives | (October 2003)
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Unnecessary Risk Part One (cont.)
------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 3 of 4 Dr. Nass’ letter is not the only document that reveals the hidden truth about the safety of the anthrax and smallpox vaccines. For example, consider the “Memorandum for the Record” written at the Army’s famed Walter Reed Medical Center concerning the case of Air National Guard Captain Jason Nietupski. Captain Nietupski was an outstanding member of the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. In April of 2000 while serving in the Army Reserves in Michigan, he was deployed to Korea for a two week military exercise. In anticipation of his deployment, he received three anthrax shots. Almost immediately he began to experience a variety of systemic disorders, including the deadly blood clots known as DVTs or Deep Vein Thrombosis. Dr. Renata J.M. Engler, a U.S. Army Colonel who is Chief of Walter Reed’s Allergy-Immunology Department and a Specialty Consultant to the Office of the Army Surgeon General authored the “Memorandum for the Record” stating that Captain Nietupski “… experienced a series of medical problems whose onset was temporarily (e.g. in time) related to his DoD-directed immunizations to include anthrax vaccine. Although causality of some of his problems (such as thrombophlebitis) can be neither proven or disproved, the onset of his problems is consistent with a classic adverse drug reaction, oral erythema multiforme/Stevens Johnson’s. (a form of chronic fatigue syndrome)” (Note: the portions in italics have been added for clarity’s sake) In short, the anthrax vaccine caused Captain Nietupski’s illness – an illness that has left him disabled. Yet, NO ADVERSE EVENT REPORT HAS EVER BEEN MADE ABOUT CAPTAIN NIETUPSKI IN RELATION TO HIS VACCINATION! Remember, that adverse event reports are supposed to be made whenever an individual shows symptoms following a vaccination – regardless of the existence of an obvious link. Indeed, the purpose of such reports is to alert FDA officials so that they can investigate and make a determination as to cause. In Captain Nietupski’s case, there was far more reason to make a report, however, than the mere appearance of symptoms. The Army’s own top immunologist said that they were “consistent” with an adverse event. Of course, the Captain’s case was not unique. But the failure to report it may have had tragic consequences for others, particularly NBC correspondent David Bloom. One of the most severe problems Captain Nietupski developed following his vaccination was thrombophlebitis, a tendency to develop blood clots. If the Army had followed the normal procedures in the Captain’s case, his blood clot problem would have been reported, and the FDA would have been alerted to look for a pattern. If a pattern were identified, then “at risk” individuals could be either exempted from vaccination or could take special precautions. It is not known whether the blood clot that led to the death of David Bloom was caused by the vaccines he was given, or occurred for some other reason. But what is known is that his death, like that of Captain Nietupski was not reported as an adverse event – as it should have been. Of course, two deaths do not make a pattern, but given the military’s failure to properly report adverse events, there can be no certainty that these were the only deaths that might have been linked to the vaccine. |
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