DH getting the anthrax shot

[michelleklu]

Hi, I was looking around online and couldn't get much information about the anthrax vaccine besides all the harmful effects it can give my DH. Should he stay away from my 10 month old daughter? If so, do you know how long?

Apparently he can't refuse it because Korea is the only country where its mandatory for the soldiers to get this vaccine. Is it true? He said hes on the 4th or 5th shot in the series and needs one or two more. I can't believe the army.

Oh and he asked the person administering it and she just said, "Oh, yes. Vaccine good for babies." Mmk.

[emma1325]

Originally Posted by michelleklu

Hi, I was looking around online and couldn't get much information about the anthrax vaccine besides all the harmful effects it can give my DH. Should he stay away from my 10 month old daughter? If so, do you know how long?

Apparently he can't refuse it because Korea is the only country where its mandatory for the soldiers to get this vaccine. Is it true? He said hes on the 4th or 5th shot in the series and needs one or two more. I can't believe the army.

Oh and he asked the person administering it and she just said, "Oh, yes. Vaccine good for babies." Mmk.

Oh no!!! I'm sorry...that would really concern me.

Have you checked into his exemption options? Here's a link to some info on it: http://www.nvic.org/faqs.aspx#43

I'm not really sure what your options are, but good luck!

[emma1325]

Wow...I read into it some more and your options look pretty bleak. It doesn't really seem as though your DH has a choice unless he feels up to a battle with the military. Here's another link: http://www.nvic.org/faqs.aspx#43

Again, I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.


And we live in a "free" country? My children can't go to school or daycare and your husband is essentially forced into a risky vaccine...

[SoCaliMommy]

My father is a marine and got the anthrax vaccine when they first started giving it and they are suppost to monitor everyone who gets it and my dad said they never monitored him after he got it.

I think it's mandatory for all military branches and they don't have to be in Korea for it to be mandatory.

[nia82]

It's not mandatory for all military personnel. It depends on where they send you. I'm not sure about South Korea, but I know that everyone who goes to the sandbox gets it.
DH didn't get it. He works in the US and won't deploy anywhere for the next 4 years. Nobody in his command ever got it, we only know from people who went to the sandbox getting it. I believe it's extremely hard or next to impossible to avoid it.
If they ever want to give it to DH, I will strongly consider for him to resign (he has no service commitment). I don't want him to get it, I'd rather leave the military than him getting sick.

[Nosy]

My DH got the shot and had severe health effects from it, but this was years ago. I don't know that you can get out of it, but I'd certainly be researching how to counteract the effects of it. Gary Matsumoto wrote a book about the vax, I think it's called Vaccine A or something like that.

[bubbamummy]

My DH was naughty and some how said he got it when he didnt, his records say he had it before he deployed...but he didnt

[michelleklu]

Thank you all for the replies. This is the second time he has gotten the shot while we were together. The first time was while I was pregnant and didn't even consider the dangers of vaccines. The next time he is supposed to get it, we are supposed to be back in the US. But, all of the people coming back from South Korea are getting sent to units that are deploying sooo he won't be able to refuse the shot again. He has 4 more years until retirement and we were planning on having another baby, but I don't know about it now seeing that he's had either 4 or 5 of the series. I'll look into the books and articles you suggested. I tried finding more information online a couple of nights ago and got weird websites saying how the government was injecting other people's DNA into each other and passing it off as the vaccine. Heh, not like I would put it past anyone. Now that people are comparing it to UD, I'm really worried. My husband isn't one to say he already got it and he isn't really worrying about it either. Its a free country until you sign a contract to protect it, then you give up all your choices apparently.

[bubbamummy]

Originally Posted by michelleklu

Thank you all for the replies. This is the second time he has gotten the shot while we were together. The first time was while I was pregnant and didn't even consider the dangers of vaccines. The next time he is supposed to get it, we are supposed to be back in the US. But, all of the people coming back from South Korea are getting sent to units that are deploying sooo he won't be able to refuse the shot again. He has 4 more years until retirement and we were planning on having another baby, but I don't know about it now seeing that he's had either 4 or 5 of the series. I'll look into the books and articles you suggested. I tried finding more information online a couple of nights ago and got weird websites saying how the government was injecting other people's DNA into each other and passing it off as the vaccine. Heh, not like I would put it past anyone. Now that people are comparing it to UD, I'm really worried. My husband isn't one to say he already got it and he isn't really worrying about it either. Its a free country until you sign a contract to protect it, then you give up all your choices apparently.

So true, I have thought that many times

[ericswifey27]

I'm so sorry!

My BIL is in the Navy and soon after his vaccinations (not sure which at the top of my head) in the middle of the night he woke up, collapsed for no reason on the hall floor, and started making odd grunting noises. He also has developed arthritis, back and knee pain.

[ZoeyZoo]

The only thing I know is they were putting Squalene into some of the anthrax batches. I think this was during the first gulf war. I don't know if it's still in there. This chemical has been associated with a number of health problems and is often blamed for the "gulf war syndrome".

[liberal_chick]

My dh got part of the series. Apparently they told him (pre-deployment to Iraq) that the series was required and after a while they changed their story and said it wasn't. So he opted out of getting the rest. I think he got 3-4 shots.

[luv-my-boys]

Originally Posted by michelleklu

Its a free country until you sign a contract to protect it, then you give up all your choices apparently.

oh true that is, coming from a AD spouse. I think whether someone gets it or others depends not only on the branch but also their Unit/installation/base's regs/rules regarding them. I have literally heard the *better safe than sorry* and well its just a shot: so I dont know. I do know DH has had some that I wouldnt even consider giving to my pet if they were in pet form. all I can do now is boost his immune system other ways and pray.

[heinz28]

Sorry to hear how stressful this is for you.

I received the Anthrax shot while I was in the Army -- the entire series because I deployed to Iraq. I had no negative reactions and no one in my 3000+ unit did either.

I realize it's easy for me to say but I wouldn't stress it too much. I also had the small pox vaccination (twice) and didn't have any problems.

I've since had a healthy baby girl with no health problems.

[fyrwmn]

DH had to have it when he deployed to Iraq back in 2004. They had no choice in the matter, it was required. I think they gave them either 4 or 5 doses and then all of a sudden it wasn't allowed to be given to them anymore. the guys were told it was because the vaccine hadn't been approved by the fda or some other such nonsense. he was already away from home when they were given, so i don't know about the consequences for you or your child. i do know that when they were given the smallpox vaccine, they were told not to have sex due to the risks. (most of us did anyways and just used condoms. when you're dh is leaving for 18 months, are you really gonna abstain?) i hate how they don't give the soldiers a choice in most of these vaccines!