The Obama administration is considering injecting American children with an anthrax vaccine in an unprecedented scientific experiment that bioethicists say will unnecessarily endanger the youngsters’ lives and health. The National Biodefense Safety Board (NBSB), will vote todayabout whether the pediatric vaccinations should go forward. A smaller working group comprised of a whopping eight members endorsed the vaccinations in September.
Since 1998, more than a million people have been vaccinated, mostly servicemen stationed overseas. The vaccinations were temporarily halted by court order but continue today.
Following the 2001 Anthrax infections on Capitol Hill, which resulted in 18 infections and five deaths, then-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is also a physician, said:
There are very real and potentially serious side effects from the vaccine and anyone who elects to receive the vaccine needs to be made aware of that. I do not recommend widespread inoculation for people with the vaccine in the Hart Building. There are too many side effects and if there is limited chance of exposure the side effects would far outweigh any potential advantage.
Bioethicist Art Caplan of the University of Pennsylvania said he is opposed to testing. “We may get, sadly, to that point some day,” he said, “but I don’t think we’re there yet.” Dr. Joel Frader of Northwestern University agreed, “It would be difficult to justify testing it on kids simply on the hypothetical possibility that there might be an attack.” Dr. Meryl Nass was more outspoken. “With this, you’re putting children at risk for no clear scientific or medical benefit,” she said.
You all have to stop getting your outrages from right wing scare sites.....the administration is simply asking if the vaccine should be TESTED in children, and looking for recommendations.
archer wrote: You all have to stop getting your outrages from right wing scare sites.....the administration is simply asking if the vaccine should be TESTED in children, and looking for recommendations.
Ok....what's the next artificial outrage of the day?
Please explain how you "test" the vaccine in children without injecting children with anthrax vaccine? Sounds to me as if they are willing to risk the lives of some children just to test their vaccine. It does not take a rightwing scare site to point out the problem with this.
archer wrote: You all have to stop getting your outrages from right wing scare sites.....the administration is simply asking if the vaccine should be TESTED in children, and looking for recommendations.
Ok....what's the next artificial outrage of the day?
Please explain how you "test" the vaccine in children without injecting children with anthrax vaccine? Sounds to me as if they are willing to risk the lives of some children just to test their vaccine. It does not take a rightwing scare site to point out the problem with this.
Seriously? Do you think vaccines have never been tested on children before they are released to the general public? No testing is done without the parents volunteering. How do you think they tested the measles, or mumps vaccines? First they use adult volunteers, then they ask for parents to volunteer the children. This vaccine has already been proven to be safe for adults. If there should be an anthrax attack in the US, we know we can give the vaccine to adults without a problem, what about the kids. If it is tested in a controlled study then it's safety for children can be proven. You, and the patriotupdate site make it sound like the administration is going to force children to have the vaccine. And that is a LIE, just like half the other stuff they post about Obama and this administration. I do have to laugh at how gullible the conservatives are when they are given a new outrage, rather than check it out they swallow it hook, line, and sinker. What we need in this country are people who can think and research for themselves, not those who will believe every lie that comes along.