By Louise Butcher

The Deputy Chief of Navy, RADM Rowan Moffitt, has reaffirmed that anthrax vaccinations had caused no unexpected side effects among Navy personnel deployed to The Gulf last year.

In a signal sent to Navy personnel last month (February), RADM Moffitt addressed some of the major concerns about anthrax injections raised in recent media reports.

These concerns included allegations of adverse reaction to the vaccinations, pressure on ADF members to have the anthrax vaccination, the use of out-of-date vaccine, storage of the vaccine and the presence of formaldehyde in the vaccine.

“No unexpected side effects were reported as a result of anthrax vaccinations administered to Navy people deploying to The Gulf AO last year,” RADM Moffitt said.

“Through his own initiative the medical officer onboard HMAS Darwin instituted a self reporting adverse reaction reporting form.

“The 97 responses received as a result of this initiative have been analysed by Defence Health Branch staff.

Ten did not appear to be related to the anthrax vaccination. The remaining responses fell within the expected side effects profile of the vaccine.”

The media reports had also focused on personnel being pressured to have the anthrax vaccination including a complaint lodged by a sailor onboard HMAS Kanimbla.

Anthrax vaccinations safe

RADM Moffitt said a senior lawyer and the Complaints Resolution Agency investigated the complaints.

“The complaints were found to be without merit. The investigators found no evidence of undue pressure.

No other complaints have been made on the matter,” RADM Moffit said. The aim of his message was to re-assure members and their families that the anthrax vaccination program was safe. “First and foremost, the ADF Anthrax vaccination program is as safe as any other vaccination program,” RADM Moffitt said.

“The expected side effects from an anthrax vaccination are short term and well documented and were advised to all vaccination recipients as part of the informed consent process.”

The vaccine informed consent forms were accompanied by an anthrax vacination information sheet.

The vaccinations information sheet noted that: “reactions at the injection site usually last from one to three days and go away without treatment.

“Redness, itching, and/or swelling occurs in up to one-third of men and up to two-thirds of women...soreness and local pain occurs in up to one-fifth of persons vaccinated. “A lump at the injection site is common occurring in up to 90 per cent of people vaccinated.

“Reactions away from the injection site occur in up to one-third of people vaccinated. These reactions may include muscle aches, joint aches, chills, low-grade fever, decreased appetite, headaches, nausea and swollen glands. These usually go away in a few days.”

Addressing further claims of members being given out-of-date anthrax injection RADM Moffitt said that expiry and batch numbers of all vaccines given to Navy members were recorded on consent forms, which were signed by members before being vaccinated.

“I can assure you that all vaccines used by Navy were in date,” he said.

On reports of formaldehyde in the vaccine, RADM Moffitt said: “It also occurs naturally in the body in a much greater amount than present in the anthrax vaccine.

“The content in the vaccine is well below the current Australian National Health and Medical Research Council standard of 0.02 percent,” he said.

For more information:
NHQ AUSTRALIA PPC/EUA/Z4P 240623Z FEB 04 011 All Ship 011 All Shore or www.navy.gov.au

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