FW: CONTAMINATED LOT OF ANTHRAX VACCINE

[Guest guest]

PRESS ADVISORY 9/15/98

> |

> | From: Tod Ensign Mrs. Norris

> | Citizen Soldier (909) 695-4352

> | (212) 679-2250

> |

> |

> | SAILOR'S CONCERNS ABOUT ANTHRAX SAFETY REJECTED BUT HE IS GIVEN

>

> |

>

> | VACCINE FROM LOT FDA FOUND CONTAMINATED

> |

> |

> | 1st Class Petty officer Norris, 30, of Temecula, CA questioned his

> | command aboard the USS Valley Forge, a cruiser in the Persian Gulf, about

> | vaccine safety. After injection, his medical records show he received

> | vaccine from Lot FAV030.

> |

> | A FDA inspection report of the Michigan Biological Products lab, which

> | produced the vaccine states:

> |

> | " Between April '94 and Feb. '95 (text blacked out) were produced of which

> | 23 were discarded due to some kind of microbial contamination. Lots

> | FAV025, FAV030, and FAV031 were whole or partially formulated from those

> | sublots not discarded in this time period. In Jan. and Feb. 1997 of 12

> | consecutive sublots produced, 5 were discarded for microbial

> | contamination...... (emphasis added) "

> | (pp.9,10 of Feb 4-20, 1998 inspection)

> |

> | According to Norris, the ship's captain, Commander Hoker

> dismissed

> | his health concerns, saying; " You will take this shot or I will make you

> a

> | seaman (lowest rank) I will not discharge you but instead will bust you

> | down in stages from E/6 to E/3. " After Norris acquiesced, he discovered

> | the lot identifier in his medical file.

> |

> | In an e-mail to Mrs. Norris, Commander Hoker wrote, " I am

> | responsible for his decision...It's me; I forced him into it and he

> | shouldn't feel guilty about it. "

> |

> | Mrs. Norris, 32, also of Temecula, CA and mother of their two

> | children, 7 and 5, recently resigned in protest after serving for two

> years

> | as the Ombudsman for the USS Valley Forge. She quit this civilian

> | volunteer position due to the Navy's actions in forcing anthrax vaccine

> on

> | her husband. (She will discuss her husband's case with the press).

> |

> | Tod Ensign, Citizen Soldier legal director, is assisting the Norris

> family.

> | The non profit GI/Veterans rights advocacy group supports military

> | personnel who refuse the anthrax vaccine due to concerns about its safety

> | and/or effectiveness.

>

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