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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59188-2003Nov18.html

 

U.S. Soldier's Death Is Tied To Vaccines

By David BrownWashington Post Staff WriterWednesday, November 19, 2003; Page A19

 

A 22-year-old female soldier who died last spring after getting multiple vaccines, including the one against smallpox, succumbed to an immune system disease apparently triggered by the immunizations.

 

That is the conclusion of a panel of experts reviewing the military's experience with smallpox vaccine, which has been given to about 515,000 troops in the past year. A second panel believes that vaccination "possibly" caused the young woman's death.

The woman received smallpox, typhoid, anthrax, hepatitis B and measles-mumps-rubella vaccine on March 2. On April 4, she died of lung complications caused by an acute attack of the autoimmune disease lupus.

She had never shown symptoms, but analysis of two blood samples stored in the military's 30-million-sample repository showed that she had abnormalities associated with lupus as far back as 1998.

The vaccinations apparently triggered a first "flare" of lupus, which an Army official, Col. John D. Grabenstein, said has been observed a few times in civilians. Neither panel cited a specific vaccine as the cause.

A panel of scientists from the government's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Armed Forces Epidemiology Board said the evidence "strongly favors" the theory that vaccination led to the death. A committee convened by the Health Resources and Services Administration split on the issue, with three members saying it was "possible" and two that it was "probable."

William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said there are no plans to change the vaccination program.

A study published last summer reported 18 nonfatal cases of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, among troops getting smallpox vaccine.

Ian "Doc" Shillington N.D.505-772-5889Dr.IanShillington