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Jabs blamed for baby deaths
by REBECCA ENGLISH, Daily Mail
The anthrax vaccine was yesterday blamed for a disturbing
cluster of deaths among babies born to soldiers who
served in Iraq.
In one small unit, every pregnancy that has occurred
since war was declared last year has ended in tragedy
or with the child suffering serious medical problems.
Campaigners claim the shocking toll among men and women
of 33 Field Hospital, based in Gosport, Hampshire, is
well above the national average.
They are now calling on the Government to halt its vaccination
programme and hold a public inquiry.
Among the group of grieving parents is Lance Corporal
Andy Saupe whose son, Kye, was born ten weeks premature
with growth problems and limb defects. The baby battled
for life but died five weeks later.
"There have been too many problems in this unit
for it to be a tragic coincidence," his distraught
wife Alex said last night. "We want answers."
Still-births and miscarriages
There has also been one still-birth, two miscarriages,
a forced termination and two premature births since
the vaccination programme was implemented. In each case,
at least one of the parents had the anthrax jab.
Among the general population, around one in 20 babies
are still-born, while one in 85 is born with some sort
of physical defect.
Around one in ten is premature while one in four pregnancies
end in miscarriage.
A total of 105 soldiers from 33 Field Hospital were
called up at the beginning of last year.
The unit - which includes medics, chefs, Royal engineers,
drivers, clerks and quartermasters - was stationed on
the Iraq-Kuwait border before moving to Basra.
Army sources say women serving in the first Gulf War
were told not to conceive within a year of being inoculated.
No warning given
But Victoria Bowen, an Army nurse whose son, Scott,
has been fighting for his life since being born in January
ten weeks prematurely, said no such warnings were given
this time.
Both she and her husband, Justin, 27, a medic with the
unit, were inoculated against chemical weapons. "When
we went to war for this country, we thought the real
danger would come from the Iraqis, not our own government,"
she said. "If there is the slightest element of
doubt, they should stop giving these injections now."
The other cases are Lance Corporal Johann Haggerty,
28, and wife Zoe whose son, Joshua, was still-born;
a Royal engineer whose wife had to have a termination
at five months because the baby was not developing properly;
a woman Fusilier who had a miscarriage; an NCO whose
wife had a miscarriage; and medic Kirsty Wilson, 21,
who had four anthrax jabs and whose pregnancy was plagued
by illness. Her son, Ryan, now has serious skin problems.
Professor Malcolm Hooper, a member of the Ministry of
Defence vaccines panel, said the revelations are "deeply
worrying" and urged the Government to launch an
immediate inquiry.
"The numbers are relatively small and I am sure
the Army will try to dilute the figure with whatever
national statistics they have," he added.
"But this is hugely significant and should not
be brushed under the carpet."
Toxin released in the bloodstream
The anthrax bacteria produces a toxin which is released
into the bloodstream and starves the tissues of oxygen.
Although the U.S. government has acknowledged the vaccine
is potentially damaging to foetuses, there has been
no attempt here to study its influence on the reproductive
system.
Charles Plumridge, of the National Gulf Veterans and
Families Association, said: "Thirteen years ago
we warned the MoD there would be mistakes with the mass
vaccination programme. After the second Gulf War, our
words are coming true."
An MoD spokesman said: "The vaccine has been used
for many years by both military and civil professions.
No advice was issued to personnel with regard to conception
in either Gulf War because no adverse reactions have
been reported.
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