Health

Update: No Anthrax Vaccine Testing on Children Until Ethical Issues Resolved

WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Children will not be tested for the anthrax vaccine — at least not yet. A government advisory board met today and cited ethical issues as preventing testing from moving forward.

Anthrax Vaccine Not Tested on Children YetBut if those issues are resolved, the board said that the vaccine could be tested in children to be sure it‘s safe and to learn the proper dose in case it’s needed in a terrorist attack.

Because of concerns that terrorists might use the potentially deadly bacteria, the government has stockpiled the vaccine, which has been widely tested on adults but never on children.

The question is whether to do tests now so that doctors would know if children’s immune systems respond to the shots well enough to signal protection

Should the anthrax vaccine be tested in children?

Concerned that terrorists might use the potentially deadly bacteria in some future attack, the government has stockpiled the vaccine, and it’s been widely tested on adults. But never on children.

The question is whether to do those tests now so that doctors would know if children’s immune systems respond well enough to the shots to signal protection – or just wait and, if there is an attack, offer the vaccine experimentally at that time.

That issue was before the National Biodefense Science Board on Friday. The board gives advice to the Department of Health and Human Services on preparations for chemical, biological and nuclear events.

Even if the board recommends testing, there is no deadline for the government to decide whether to go along. And if it does agree, it’s not clear how much time it would take to find money for such research and get clearance from review boards at medical centers that would conduct studies.

Another big question is whether parents would sign up their children to test a vaccine when there is no immediate threat. It’s not possible to get anthrax from the vaccine, but there are side effects. In adults, shot-site soreness, muscle aches, fatigue and headache are the main ones, and rare but serious allergic reactions have been reported.

Anthrax is among several potential bioterror weapons and is of special interest because it was used in letters sent to the media and others in 2001, claiming five lives and sickening 17. That prompted extensive screening of mail and better ventilation and testing at postal facilities and government agencies.

The FBI has blamed the attacks-by-mail on Bruce Ivins, a scientist at an Army biodefense laboratory, who committed suicide before he could be charged.

Anthrax can be difficult to treat, especially if someone has breathed anthrax spores. Millions of doses of antibiotics have been stockpiled since the 2001 episode, and two experimental toxin-clearing treatments also are being stored.

U.S. troops deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan and some other countries are required to get anthrax shots. Since 1998, more than 1 million have been vaccinated. After lawsuits objecting to the requirement, a federal judge suspended the program in 2004, finding fault in the Food and Drug Administration’s process for approving the drug. The next year, the FDA reaffirmed its finding that the vaccine was safe.

Comments (55)

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  • fiveft15
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 11:18am

    Vaccinate children with anthrax, then set the anthrax loose in the US which kills most adults, Then you have a bunch of fresh young to teach the glories of obummer and his cronies!

    Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 11:34am

      Sorry, You won’t be “testing” ANY vaccines on my children. Take my word for it.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • quovadis
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 2:31pm

      Google “h1n1 vaccine and miscarriages” and read the unreported, tragic stories.

      Report Post »  
  • tajloc
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 10:46am

    y’all need to read about Floride. Talk about poisoning your children. Resistance to F in the water supply has reached a tipping point.
    PTL for blogs

    Report Post »  
    • fiveft15
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 11:22am

      Vaccinate children, set the anthrax losse killing a massive amount of adults, then re-educate the new batch of loyal obummer children to your way of thinking. What a plan!

      Report Post »  
  • shotzie52
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 10:15am

    I went to a state nursing school program. We had 30 classmates, 10 are dead. We received “shots” every fall…not exactly sure what they were….those of us still alive suffer from autoimmune disease, heart blockages requiring bypass at age 49 with no high cholesterol, family history and a healthy lifestyle, cancer…

    The government has experimented on us already, parents need to be vigilant that this is not given to their children.

    Life has all kinds of risks on a normal day, no reason to purposefully add something that isn’t proven necessary…way too many vaccines mandated now

    Report Post » shotzie52  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on October 30, 2011 at 1:19am

      I remember being made to swish this red or blue fluoride crap around in my mouth for 20 secs when I was a kid, warned not to swallow any of it, and the nurse made the entire school do it.

      I remember it made me feel really nauseous. I feel the same nausea today after brushing my teeth with regular toothpaste.

      I’m switching to all-natural toothpaste or just baking soda and some mint or something.

      Enough is enough of the fluoride poisoning. We need to research a way to reverse and negate this rat poison.

      x.x

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
  • Lee_in_PA
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:38am

    Sounds too much like the mullahs who send other people’s children to blow themselves and others to kingdom come. Let‘s start with the government employees’ children. Not my grandchild.

    I was part of that oral polio vaccine that ended up with having to have a shot afterwards. And several years of rabies shots for the pets that were given incorrectly. For which we paid in full, only to find out later it wasn’t to be given that way. Never did get a refund on that either.

    And anyone remember when the first Swine flu shots were given and lots of people got sick or died?

    And all those black prisoners who where shot up with VD? And the soldiers who went to Iraq who got a lot of shots for possible exposures?

    anything the government wants to give you.. pass on it.

    Report Post » Lee_in_PA  
    • Teaparty-grammy
      Posted on October 30, 2011 at 12:21am

      My mother was paralyzed for several weeks because of that swine flu shot. The next time they started hollering about “swine flu — get vaccinated NOW!” I said, “Thanks, but no thanks!”

      Report Post » Teaparty-grammy  
  • TRILO
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:35am

    Vaccines in this country are getting out of hand. HPV for girls and recently boys…now anthrax. Parents allow their children to go through body scanners and get gropped by TSA agents and I am sure they would follow right along with anthrax vaccines for their kids. At least there are a few people around that still have ethics and question the soundness of this issue. I am sure this corrupt government will decide this is ethical and justified because our nanny masters need to keep us safe. This government is masterful at keeping the sheeple in fear of terrorism and the boogyman that lurks around every corner.

    Report Post » TRILO  
  • LiveforFreedom
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:31am

    As stated before, “Over my Dead Body” I’m a Veteran with unexplained illnesses, that have no answers!!
    I meet with the Medical leadership from a V.A Hospital twice a year with other Veteran that have the same medical issues that I have. The next step is to go to the Jersey VA Hospital for the answers that no one else can find!! One of biggest Issue is the amount of women Veteran with Throat and Thyroid Cancers!! And another concern which stand a head of all the VACCINE is not FDA approved for use on HUMANS!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 8:11am

    Start with your kids Obama.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Ferrarello
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:27am

    They have no ethnics. DO NOT let them use your kids as guinea pigs.

    Report Post » Ferrarello  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:23am

    Good thing we got that there FDA to find things safe, we couldn’t judge adequately on our own. I’m SOO glad our federal overlords are looking out for the little guy. At the expense of the little guy.

    Report Post »  
  • Abraham Young
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:21am

    Yes, let’s put bugs in our bodies. A little bug never hurt nobody. It actually helps us get STRONGER.

    That’s why the cost of medicine is so high these days, all the genius reasoning like the above.

    Report Post »  
  • Valerie Summer
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:08am

    Test it on Malia and Sasha first if you think it’s so safe – you’re not touching my kids!!!

    Report Post »  
  • MOLLYPITCHER
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:29am

    I am wary of any vaccine. I certainly would not volunteer my kids for an experiment, I can’t imagine anyone would. I really don’t like the idea of trusting the government to inject my perfectly healthy child with poison, which despite what “they” tell us, all vaccines contain poison. The doctors will tell you that they “filter” the formaldehyde out of the vaccine.

    Report Post »  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 7:55am

      They will institute the program in school without your knowledge or consent.

      Report Post »  
    • MOLLYPITCHER
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 10:36am

      @adnil
      I home school

      Report Post »  
  • Sandra
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:26am

    I don’t believe children should ever be put in the (pig testing category). Human testing should only be done on adults who volunteer their consent, to take the risk for mankind. If complications arise they should receive care as needed.

    Report Post » Sandra  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 6:17am

    Let’s see~~~ Black, Hispanic, Asian, American Indians, muslimes, terrorists and illegals will NOT be vaccinated. Whom does that leave????

    Lock and load.
    Home school where GOD IS yet welcomed.
    PRAY ON, AMERICA.

    Report Post »  
  • riseandshine
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 2:44am

    The anthrax attacks back in ‘01 served it’s purpose….that and Colin Powell’s Oscar performance at the U.N…they got their war in Iraq.

    Report Post » riseandshine  
  • phillipwgirard
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:59am

    0BAMA=MENGELE? yuh think?

    Report Post » phillipwgirard  
  • whatthecrazy
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:40am

    Anyone who would sacrifice their child for this vacine are friggin insane ……….not my child period!

    Report Post »  
    • whatthecrazy
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:43am

      Not to mention the fact if we would get these terrorist out of our country and we know who they are we wouldnt have as much of this crap to worry about………………………………

      Report Post »  
  • hogtrashhd
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:36am

    our fearless leader obama should absolutely volunteer his girls first.. in fact anyone who passed this MUST use it on their kids first.. let’s see how far it gets then..

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 2:13am

      I agree … put up or shut up .. I am so sick of the “do as I say not as I do” idiots.

      Report Post »  
    • Teaparty-grammy
      Posted on October 30, 2011 at 12:12am

      Amen. I think we are ALL sick of the “elites” in Washington telling us “peasants” what we need to do for them, when the things they are asking of us are things they are not willing to do.

      I will NEVER forget that one lone reporter who actually had the stones to stand up and ask Obama if he and his family would be enrolling in Obamacare? All he got for an answer was the “imperial glare”, and those other gutless wonders in the press corpse (misspelling deliberate) just SAT there and gave the little Communist PUKE a pass. NOBODY ever asked that question again at a WH press conference. If those so-called “journalists” were doing their jobs and worth the powder it would take to blow them to you-know-where, they ALL would have kept asking the arrogant SOB that question at EVERY press conference until he answered it.

      Report Post » Teaparty-grammy  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:15am

    This is insanity………..the big drug compaines are in Obamas legion of communist terrorist on the American people……….Let his kids take the first shots , if they live to be age 80 , we’ll see.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • Deb C
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:29am

      How many in the Obama Administration advisory group would volunteer their children ?

      Report Post » Deb C  
    • Tim Law
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 1:45am

      So how many deaths of our children will be acceptable? I say screw you Big Brother. Our children’s lives are worth more than your stupid test. If you test and even one child die’s, YOU will be MURDERS! Your not god’s, you don’t have the right to kill our children. It would be best to just forget the insane idea, the price of just one child’s death will be to high. Just something to think about, there is a GOD and he’s watching. I’m certain HE wont take kindly to the Murder of children.

      Report Post »  
  • imahappy123
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 12:55am

    The fact that they even have to ask the question: Is this ethical? In this context? Unbelievable! By history has shown us just how far evil can go… the Nazis performs experiments too, right?

    Report Post » imahappy123  
  • abbygirl1994
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 12:54am

    Governments children go first… they are always pushing stuff like this.. you know like Perry’ mandatory shot!! What sort of parent would allow their child to take this shot???

    Report Post » abbygirl1994  
  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 12:42am

    Pigs are closest to humans biologically, and baby pigs can be used. If an emergency arrises it should be the right
    and responsibility of the parent to decide vaccinate or not. Peta might not like that, but I don’t think children should be used in testing.

    Report Post »  
  • CatB
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 12:42am

    It is not “ethical” to test this on children … PERIOD! Looks like they got too much heat and are back tracking. Never! NEVER!

    Report Post »  
    • Teaparty-grammy
      Posted on October 30, 2011 at 12:17am

      ESPECIALLY since the children are not able to give “informed consent” to be used as guinea pigs. This is CHILD ABUSE, plain and simple–if anybody presumed to speak for a child and make the decision that it was OK to turn them into medical “crash dummies”.

      Report Post » Teaparty-grammy  
  • Cold War Vet
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 12:18am

    Why can’t they just test the vaccine on the OWS protesters? They’re so stupid, I doubt they’d notice anyway. If it went bad, who cares?

    Report Post » Cold War Vet  
  • lukerw
    Posted on October 29, 2011 at 12:09am

    What is “fair game” (without ethical considerations) that can be TESTED upon Children?

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on October 29, 2011 at 5:31am

      Nothing can ever be tested on anyone without ethical considerations, but the ethical considerations would favor the decision to test if it was a disease like smallpox that was highly communicable and already killing large numbers of children, and if previous tests on animals and adults indicated a very low probability of serious danger.

      Report Post »  
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