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From: " Lori Greenleaf " <david.greenleaf@...>

<onelist>

Subject: Fw: Forced Vaccinations 09/08/98

Date: Fri, 29 Jan 1999 09:38:41 -0700

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From: Rod Hafemeister <rhafemeister@...>

lori greenleaf <david.greenleaf@...>; Jim Brown

<jebrown@...>; Meryl Nass <mnass@...>

Subject: Forced Vaccinations 09/08/98

Date: Monday, September 07, 1998 10:14 PM

Article in the Belleville News-Democrat 9/8/98

Tomorrow's paper.

Also moved to Knight Ridder; they'll probably move it Tuesday for

Wednesday's papers. Keep on close hold for 48 hours.

**************

Sept. 8, 1998

Army halts force to give anthrax shots

By Rod Hafemeister

Belleville News-Democrat

Army officials have changed their minds: They have decided they will not

use force to give shots to soldiers who refuse their anthrax

vaccinations.

“The Army is amending its policy. We’re not going to do forcible

vaccinations,” Army spokesman Capt. Bertinetti said. “We’re not

going to strap anybody down.”

The Pentagon is proceeding with plans to vaccinate all 2.4 million

active-duty, National Guard and reserve service members against anthrax.

Anthrax, a livestock disease, is considered relatively easy to turn into

a biological weapon and is virtually 100 percent fatal in the inhaled

form most likely to be used as a weapon.

Military leaders say the vaccine is the best protection against anthrax.

But federal regulators have repeatedly reported problems at the only

plant that makes the vaccine, and opponents question its safety and

effectiveness.

At least 14 sailors and two airmen have been disciplined for refusing

the vaccine earlier this year.

And Army Pfc. Mathew Baker, 20, went absent without leave from Fort

, Ga., on June 9.

At an Aug. 4 press conference, Baker said he went AWOL after getting his

first anthrax shot. He said he only accepted the shot after his

company’s first sergeant threatened to strap him down and inject him if

he refused.

Army officials defended the first sergeant and said that right is

contained in Army Regulation 600-20, “Army Command Policy,” which sets

forth the responsibilities of those in command of troops.

In a section titled, “Medical care with or without the soldier’s

permission,” the regulation states:

“The policy of authorizing forcible immunization is intended to protect

the health and overall effectiveness of the command as well as the

health of the soldier. Soldiers do not have the option as to whether

they will be immunized except as prescribed” in a separate regulation.

The exemptions include pregnancy, other medical conditions or religious

objections.

As recently as last week, soldiers in California and Korea said that

commanders were citing the regulation and threatening to forcibly

vaccinate anyone who refused.

“The reg is still out there — it has not been rescinded yet,” Bertinetti

said. “The Army is developing a policy on vaccinations, specifically

anthrax.

“Soldiers will face disciplinary action if they refuse.”

Baker, who turned himself into the Army on Aug. 5, was released to his

parents’ home in Springfield, Ohio. He is pending discharge.

The Navy last week gave general discharges to two sailors who refused to

take the shots. Six others are in a holding status in Japan, pending

discharge.

© 1998 Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat

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