Admission on Gulf War vaccines spurs debate on medical records

Effect of multiple, simultaneous vaccines on polio seroresponse and associated health outcomes

BACKGROUND

Administration of multiple simultaneous vaccines to infants, children, and military recruits is not uncommon. However, little research exists to examine associated serological and health effects, especially in adults.

METHOD

We retrospectively examined 416 paired serum specimens from U.S. military subjects who had received the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) alone or in combination with either 1 other vaccine (<3 group) or 4 other vaccines (>4 group). Each of the 2 groups was subdivided into 2 subgroups in which Tdap was present or absent.

RESULTS

The >4 group was associated with a higher proportion of polio seroconversions than the <3 group (95% vs. 58%, respectively, p<0.01). Analysis of the <3 subgroup that excluded Tdap vs. the >4 subgroup that excluded Tdap showed no difference between them (p>0.1). However, the >4 subgroup that included Tdap had significantly more seroconversions than either the <3 subgroup that excluded Tdap or the >4 subgroup that excluded Tdap (p<0.01). Overall, at least 98% of subjects were at or above the putative level of seroprotection both pre- and post-vaccination, yet at least 81% of subjects seroconverted. In an analysis of 400 of the subjects in which clinic in- and outpatient encounters were counted over the course of 1 year following vaccinations, there was no significant difference between the 2 groups (p>0.1).

CONCLUSION

A combination of >4 vaccines including IPV appeared to have an immunopotentiation effect on polio seroconversion, and Tdap in particular was a strong candidate for an important role. The dose of IPV we studied in our subjects, who already had a high level of seroprotection, acted as a booster. In addition, there appear to be no negative health consequences from receiving few versus more multiple simultaneous vaccinations.

Toxicological Effects of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Noxious Agents in Modern Warfare and Terorrism

Oružja za masovno uništavanje najbolji su primjer uporabe civilizacijskih tehnoloških dostignuća u štetne svrhe i protiv ljudske civilizacije. Unatoč nastojanjima oko kontrole i smanjenja njihove količine, rizik zbog samoga postojanja pa čak i širenja zahtijeva da se o njihovoj uporabi i dalje vodi računa i da se povećaju obrambene mjere - nuklearno-biološko-kemijske obrane (NBKO).

Osim suvremenog vojnika koji je u vojnim i mirovnim operacijama diljem svijeta izložen raznim noksama kemijskog, biološkog i radiološkog podrijetla, nezaštićeno i uglavnom slabo educirano civilno stanovništvo može biti izloženo terorističkim napadima.

Oružja za masovno uništavanje i nokse kemijskog, biološkog i radiološkog podrijetla uzrokuju razne toksikološke posljedice, a bez obzira na njihovo podrijetlo, imaju zajednički nazivnik djelovanja - poremećaj fiziološkog stanja u organizmu. Poremećaji proizašli nakon izlaganja tim noksama nerijetko se teško determiniraju, dijagnosticiraju i liječe.

U ovome su radu s biomedicinskog aspekta obrađene važnije nokse kemijskog, biološkog i radiološkog podrijetla na temelju odabranih primjera iz terorizma i suvremenog ratovanja: polonij-210, osiromašeni uran, salmonela, bedrenica (antraks), genetički modificirane bakterije, polimerno predivo "paučina" i bojni otrovi sarin i iperit.

Anthrax vaccine. Model of a response to the biologic warfare threat

Anthrax vaccine is being administered to all 2.4 million active duty, reserve, and National Guard troops, as prophylaxis against biologic warfare. The vaccine's effectiveness in this setting may be limited. This article discusses unresolved issues of safety, with an emphasis on the need for careful surveillance of vaccines used by the military, which has sidestepped the commercial process. Also considered are ethical issues related to the development and use of military biologics, as the United States Army advances its Joint Vaccine Acquisition Program, a plan to produce more than ten vaccines specifically for biologic warfare threat, and to administer them to all military servicemembers.