smallpox vaccination and Hep C transmission

[EyesofBlue55]

Now this is strange and I have never heard of this in the whole year I have been on this forum.Speaking of the possibility of getting hep C from the gammaglobulin shot.I have now read that  the possibility also exists if you had a smallpox vaccination before 1971.The vaccinations were given with a two prong needle that was dipped into the vaccine and you got the shot in your arm and it drew blood.It seems that also the military were given these shots also.

If you  google Smallpox vaccination and Hep C the sites will come up.  cindy

AMAZING(the possibilities)

[Dee1956]

Eyes of Blue started this thread.  I was looking for information and found her post.  Cindy had HCV, then was dx with cancer.  Unfortunately she died.

Like Cindy I am finding information re gamma globulin injections as well as the Smallpox vaccine which was given using a special needle over and over.  They would disinfect the needle with fire.  I wonder it if worked to kill every virus?  The below is about how the govt knew that HCV was being transmitted.

https://asknod.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/jetguns-when-they-really-found-out-the-truth/

[EyesofBlue55]

J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 Mar;39(3):243-6.
Association between smallpox vaccination and hepatitis C antibody positive serology in Pakistani volunteers.
Aslam M, Aslam J, Mitchell BD, Munir KM.
Source

Punjab Hepatitis Research Center, 31/10A Abu Bakr Block, New Gardentown, Lahore, Pakistan.
Abstract
GOALS:

To determine whether the smallpox vaccination program has significantly contributed to the widespread prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Pakistan.
BACKGROUND:

Hepatitis C virus has become a worldwide pandemic and has especially devastated developing nations such as Pakistan. There continues to be an increase in fatalities due to hepatitis C-related cirrhosis in Pakistan.
STUDY:

We studied 523 volunteers in the city of Lahore to determine whether the smallpox vaccination program, which ran from 1964 to 1982 in Pakistan, may be responsible for the national surge in hepatitis C viral infection, perhaps because of repetitive use of vaccination devices without proper sterilization or to contaminated vaccine contents.
RESULTS:

There was a significantly higher likelihood of hepatitis C antibody seroprevalence in individuals vaccinated for smallpox versus nonvaccinated individuals (21.0% vs. 4.6%, P < 0.001, age-adjusted odds ratio, 3.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-8.46). Subjects with positive hepatitis C serology were also more likely to have a history of transfusions (19.2% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.01), but anti-HCV positive serology was not significantly associated with a history of surgery or dental procedures. Following adjustment for age, sex, and history of other conditions, including transfusion, the association between prior smallpox vaccination and hepatitis C antibody seroprevalence remained strong and highly significant (multivariate adjusted odds ratio, 6.11; 95% confidence interval, 2.58-14.51).
CONCLUSION:

These results suggest that the widespread prevalence of hepatitis C infection in Pakistan may be an unintended consequence of the country's smallpox vaccination program and that blood transfusion is also a significant risk factor.
HectorSF-
Even thought this study was done in pakistan doesnt mean it couldnt happen here.I dont recall saying that it was happening here-just saying it could anywhere.What  about 240,000 children having hep c and 60-100,000 being chronic?I dont think they all got this from IV drug use.If you need the link here Ill find it again But I did read it-cindy

Sorry I didnt answer sooner-Ive been dealing with a death.....

[screaming48]

I know about the Tuskegee Airmen and the syphilis. I also know everything on the internet does not make it so. I was just responding to what you asked for. I did send you a personal note, guess you didn't get it. As far as a boring day goes poor choice of words on my part, yesterday was actually the first day since march when I was diagnosed with this crap that I actually felt like my head was working. Sorry to offend that was not my intent at all. I was just wanting for a change to have a conversation where my mind was somewhat stimulated. I forget that sometimes the way things are written on the internet can come across in a totally misunderstood day. By the way I know you have been on here a long time and I am new.  But we both have the same disease, we are both in the same boat and we are both allowed our opinions, just stating mine. Advice taken and duly noted! I will no longer post anything that does not have anything to do with hep c.

[HectorSF]

If you want to "play devils advocate" and "to pass an otherwise boring day"...I would suggest you post on the Hepatitis Social/Living with Hepatitis forum. This forum is for "questions about being newly diagnosed, questions about current treatments, information and participation in discussions about research studies and clinical trials related to Hepatitis."

As for "This is all over the internet" so was the end of the world on May 21st. Because it is on the Internet doesn't make it true.

* 2,370,000 undiagnosed vets! I imagine most had or have families that may have been exposed.
HCV is a blood-borne virus. How would their family members been exposed?

* I think you mean the "The Tuskegee syphilis experiment" not the Tuskegee Airman.

The Tuskegee syphilis experiment was a study conducted between 1932 and 1972 in Tuskegee, Alabama by the U.S. Public Health Service to study the natural progression of untreated syphilis in poor, rural black men who thought they were receiving free health care from the U.S. government. They were never told they had syphilis, nor were they ever treated for it. By 1947, penicillin had become the standard treatment for syphilis. Choices available to the doctors involved in the study might have included treating all syphilitic subjects and closing the study, or splitting off a control group for testing with penicillin. Instead, the Tuskegee scientists continued the study without treating any participants and withholding penicillin and information about it from the patients. In addition, scientists prevented participants from accessing syphilis treatment programs available to others in the area. The study continued, under numerous US Public Health Service supervisors, until 1972, when a leak to the press eventually resulted in its termination. The victims of the study included numerous men who died of syphilis, wives who contracted the disease, and children born with congenital syphilis.

The Tuskegee syphilis experiment had nothing to do with the military or the Tuskegee Airman.

The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the United States armed forces. During World War II, African Americans in many U.S. states still were subject to racist Jim Crow laws. The American military was racially segregated, as was much of the federal government. The Tuskegee Airmen were subject to racial discrimination, both within and outside the army. Despite these adversities, they trained and flew with distinction.

Hector

[screaming48]

I dont think that a simple change in diet and lifestyle is what it will take as stated in the article, but there it is...ignorance which is typical for those at the top and rear echelon playing with others lives. Wow I have enjoyed this :)

[screaming48]

HCVets.com Press Release
August 2007
Staff Reporter
THE SILENT EPIDEMIC AMONG RETIRED MILITARY AND VETERANS CAUSED BY A MUTE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE

2.6 Million Retired Military, And Veterans Are Under Fire And Account For More "Daily Dead", Than Vietnam, Iraq And Afghanistan Combined.

Approximately, 26 million men and women have cycled through the military basic training camps. All of these inductees are required to undergo the Naval or Department of Defense (DoD) medical procedures. Most of the time, these procedures include vaccinations given with a multi use jet injector (MUNJI).  

In 1999, the Department of Defense (DoD), withdrew use of all but one type of MUNJI.  The DoD said the manufacturer discontinued production, anticipating liability due to the potential cross-contamination of blood borne pathogens.[1]  These events followed on the heals of the World Health Organization warning, alerting countries to the dangers MUNJIs could pose, with the potential to transmit infection every 1 in 7 inoculations.[2]    Nevertheless, the Navy and DoD believes the risk is worth the time saved, and began the practice again soon after the withdrawal. MUNJI use continues today despite the fact that in 2005, the Food and Drug Administration ban their use unless the device can demonstrated not to transmit blood.[3]  

Gary A. Roselle, M. D. Program Director for Infectious Diseases, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), testified before the House of Representatives, "One in 10 Vets have Hepatitis C (HCV) - 10 percent in the VHA system tested positive for HCV.  Roselle continues; "retired military and veterans serving during Vietnam accounted for more than 60 percent of those with positive test results." [4]  

Statistics show the VA has identified 300,000 patients in its system. However, it has done very little to notify the remaining 2,370,000, undiagnosed vets. This is why, each hour of every day, three people die from HCV or its related conditions, two of these people have a military background. That is 2 x 24 = 48 per day x 365 = 17,520 per year.[5]

The VA's HCV test and treatment is free to vets. However, this program remains unadvertised despite the fact, if diagnosed in time, a simple change in diet and lifestyle can save lives.

This warning should be "screamed" from the rooftops.

Where are the reporters? http://www.hcvets.com  ;

2,370,000 undiagnosed vets! I imagine most had or have families that may have been exposed.
playing devils advocate, this was just basically a "what if" conversation.
This is all over the internet, type in hep c and military you can have the pick of the litter too many to choose from

two of three people have a military background.
  And knowing the military do you think they would really tell everyone
Remember Tuskegee Alabama Airman

My Dad died of Leukemia as did several of his buddys that he served with due to exposure to benzines, no doubt in my mind about that. So what if you could get hep c from innoculations? Makes for interesting conversation to pass an otherwise boring day.

[Kathy73]

Impressive information. Thanks!

[HectorSF]

Thanks for posting the article. Maybe I missed something but I didn't see anything in the article indicating evidence that hepatitis C was spread in the military through vaccinations during the Vietnam War era. If you could point that out I'd appreciate it.

All I read was...
* The information on studies and research on Hepatitis C were sought in response to fears by some veterans that Hepatitis C could have evolved from Pentagon experiments on servicemen to find a vaccine for hepatitis during the Vietnam War."
But "fears" are not proof of anything.

I would venture to say that there are other factors that are at least as real that contributed to why Vietnam era veterans have a higher rate of HCV then other parts of the US population. Based on what we now know about methods of HCV transmission. We must remember that HCV wasn't identified until 1989 and the blood supply was not tested and prevented from contamination until 1992. 17 years after the end of the war in southeast Asia.

300,000 military personnel were wounded.

153,000 were hospitalized during the war.

During two years of the war 365,000 military personnel had blood transfusions. (The most common way of getting HCV before 1992).

2 million were involved in combat and many attended to the 300,000 wounded.

Many service men had tattoos under less then sanitary conditions.

Although the incidence of HCV transmission by sexual relations is very low, prostitution was pervasive in southeast Asia.

5%-8% of the Vietnamese population is estimated to be infected with HCV. (In the US it is 1.6 percent of the population).

Many personnel were involved in recreational drugs with drugs which as heroin and cocaine. Although usually smoked in Vietnam if they had a habit when they returned to the US the use of needles become the common means of taking the drugs.

While there is the possibility that HCV was spread through vaccinations it is only speculation. While there were other known means of transmission as I pointed out above. I am not discounting the possibility but I think it needs to be put in context of a war that was fought with more hand to hand combat than our current wars. And knowledge about any type of hepatitis was very limited. Conspiratorial theories are everywhere these days. I don't see any advantage to spreading simple answers to complicated issues such as the transmission of HCV and who is to blame. Reality is much more complicated then black and white and good and evil in my opinion.  

I contracted hepatitis C during that time period and was not in the military so perhaps I take the issue too personally.

Thanks for letting me add my 2 cents worth.
Hector

[Anne1717]

Immunoglobulins have been used in medicine for years to help prevent or reduce the risk of infections (for example serum immune globulin, hepatitis B immune globulin, varicella zoster immune globulin, etc.).  In addition, anti-D immune globulin (Rhogam) has nearly eliminated Rh sensitization in the United States.  The safety of these products over the years has been excellent despite the fact that these immune globulin products come from pooled plasma where some donors probably carry transmissible infections.  In the mid 1990’s, there were reports of Hepatitis C transmission following the administration of some brands of serum immune globulin.  The frequency of this occurrence is still low, however, this underscores the importance of having a clear indication for the use of these products.

Immune globulin production starts with a fractionation procedure that effectively removes most if not all potentially infectious agents.  However, due to these reported HCV transmissions, most products (especially those used in the United States) add other purification steps such as a solvent-detergent treatment or a low pH treatment and pepsin.  Therefore, Hepatitis C transmission with these products will hopefully be non-existent in the future.

[screaming48]

Hepatitis C Origin Points to Possible Military Link


DOCUMENTS RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT
VIETNAM ERA EXPERIMENTS
ED WENDT
Copyright 1999 by Forward Times


Documents obtained by Forward Times under the Freedom of Information Act, for an investigation of the hepatitis C epidemic, reveal that U.S. servicemen were used to test experimental vaccines while they were in Basic Combat Training during the Vienam Era.
Responses to the request by the Department of Defense indicate that soldiers at major U.S. military training bases during the late 1960s and 1970s were used to test vaccines for spinal meningitis and other diseases.
Hepatitis, not Hepatitis C, was a serious medical condition for military personnel during the Vietnam War. Thousands of servicemen contracted the disease and the Pentagon was determined to do something about it to resolve a drain on combat readiness.
Forward Times, under the Freedom of Information Act, requested the following:
* Any information, documents, research reports, and records pertaining to experimental and/or test vaccines administered to trainees in Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in 1970 for spinal Meningitis and hepatitis.
* The criteria in which trainees were selected for said vaccines, and details of any follow up done by the Department of the Army on the soldiers who participated in the vaccinations.
* Any studies and research on Hepatitis C contracted by soldiers in the United States Army.
The information on studies and research on Hepatitis C were sought in response to fears by some veterans that Hepatitis C could have evolved from Pentagon experiments on servicemen to find a vaccine for hepatitis during the Vietnam War.
The Department of Defense responded to the Forward Times request only after intervention by U.S. Representative Gene Green, D-Houston.
The Pentagon revealed that the Office of the Surgeon General of the Army established a "hepatitis C registry" during the early 1990s.
But the Department of Defense, according to the response, "discontinued the hepatitis C virus diseases registry on October 21, 1993 after concluding that the "infection rates among Army personnel were low, about one percent."
According to the response, the Pentagon concluded "that hepatitis C did not constitute a significant drain on either personnel or medical resources. The Department of Defense admitted that "the registry was neither complete nor a truly random sample."
The response, written by Anne Johnson-Winegar, stated that the original intent of the registry was to:
* "Maintain a list of individuals who had tested positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies in orer to evaluate screening tests."
* "Track the natural progression of hepatitis C virus and infection and disease in soldiers and other beneficiaries."
* "Attempt to assess the impact of hepatitis C virus disease on military personnel and readiness."
* "Establish a database of infected persons who could be followed over time."
"Data was collected from May 1990 through October 1993," said Johnson-Winegar. "Data was collected from medical treatment facility blood banks and clinical laboratories, from prevention medicine services, and from the references at WRAIR. The reporting of patient data by the preventative medicine services was mandated by OTSG, but compliance varied from post to post. In the absence of patient data from preventative medical resources, only hepatitis C virus antibody tests results were known for an individual."
While the Pentagon disbanded the hepatitis C registry for military personnel in 1993, after concluding that the infection rate was only one percent, recent studies indicate that military veterans have the highest hepatitis C rate in the nation.
Statistics by the American Liver Foundation show that 1.8 percent of the U.S. population is Hepatitis C positive. Twelve to 14 percent of those infected are veterans.
African-Americans, at 3.2 percent, are the largest infected ethnic group, followed by Mexican-Americans with 2.1 percent, and 1.5 percent for whites.
More than four million Americans have hepatitis C. It is estimated that 300,000 of those who have tested positive contracted the virus through blood transfusions they received before 1992.
Government officials are being urged to mobilize health resources to educate the public on hepatitis C. Houston City Council, among other agencies, is being targeted to adopt education and outreach programs on the virus.
The governor of New York recently signed into law Assembly Bill 86868. The legislation directs the commissioner of health to develop educational materials on diagnosis, treatment and prevention of hepatitis C for health care professionals and persons at high risk.
Hepatitis C warriors are urging other political subdivisions, including the city of Houston, to adopt similar measures.
Inquiries reveal that the Houston Health Department is doing very little to educate the public on hepatitis C.
Veterans’ organizations throughout the nation are mobilizing to combat hepatitis C and to lobby governmental entities to launch an all-out war against the disease.Many veteran victims are concerned that Vietnam Era soldiers, who received blood transfusions for wounds on the frontlines of the war, may have contacted the virus through contaminated transfusions and spread the disease upon returning home and becoming part of society.
Hepatitis C was not identified until 1989. However, blood samples of American servicemen taken in 1948 were recently reviewed during a study. Those samples detected the hepatitis C virus.
California, like New York, is cracking down on hepatitis C. A California Senate hearing recently revealed that little action has been taken by the state to stop the spread of the killer virus which is expected to kill more people than AIDS.
Center for Disease Control statistics provided to the panel revealed that minority groups are more at risk for hepatitis C.
CDS statistics show that California ranks first in the hepatitis C prevalence rate. Texas ranks second, New York ranks third, and Florida ranks fourth.
Studies prevented to the panel indicated that if detected early enough, about 40 percent of hepatitis C patients successfully respond to treatment. However, most infected people are not aware that they have hepatitis C until irreversible liver damage has occurred.
The studies concluded that even for those who do not respond to treatment, it is important that they become aware, because there are interventions that can significantly slow down the progression of hepatitis C damage to the liver by abstaining from drinking alcoholic beverages and making sure they are immunized to protect from hepatitis A and B.
Information about hepatitis C can be obtained from
the Texas Liver Institute by calling 713-791-8668.

[Angelwings71]

Have you heard getting it from Anti D??

[HectorSF]

Please post some text and links to the articles that you used to come to your conclusion that Hepatitis C was spread through smallpox vaccinations here is the U.S.

Thanks
Hector

[Interfurgen]

I have two friends that ,believe they got the big ( C ) from the war. They are in there  in mid 60ess. One of them going to start tx soon . The other friend is frecking out about it. Scary !!

[EyesofBlue55]

ALL  which could have been modes of transmission.Maybe thats why there are alot of people( that dont have the risk factors) that  are coming down with hep C?????
Downright scary If you ask me.Maybe the govt should quit trying to cover up and give us the truth and admit some of their wrong doing????? cindy

[screaming48]

Well thats great, my Dad was military and I grew up getting tons of shots. Everytime we went overseas we got shots, and I remember lining up at school and getting the shots with that little gun deal that did everyone in line.....I guess we can get this nasty stuff from just about anywhere. And I know for a fact I had 3 smallpox vaccines, umpteen typhus, typhoid,tetanus and so on and so forth. And now having to get hep a and b as well, not to mention the interferon I will be doing and I really hate needles with good reason because of all the vaccines I had to get as a kid and oh yeah can't forget the gamma globulin because we were all exposed to hep a from someone cooking at the base grill who had it. I have gotten to the point I dont want to eat out in public because of all the junk floating around. ick And after what Anne1717 just said about getting a tetanus booster, my last one was twelve years ago and I am supposed to get one when I go tomorrow to get 2nd hep a shot, think I will pass on the tetanus.

[Anne1717]

Interesting !  I believe I contracted my acute HCV through a tetanus shot last May. I just read that the tetanus shot is a serum immune globulin based shot which is a pooled blood plasma product and they have found some contamination of HCV. I have not yet done enough reading so I am not sure how accurate what I just said was, but it is very interesting and SCARY.