Would you get Vaccinated?

[Shaffer]

If you were still on active duty and you were ordered to get the smallpox vaccination, would you do as ordered?

[wrbones]

Yep. Small pox is no way to die!

15 million a year world wide dyin' of it without the vaccine back when the population of the United States was less than 150 million vs. 2 out of a million who get the shot now?

Odds are in my favour, active duty or not.

Even if ya didn't die of it back then, there was a good chance to get it and if ya weren't broke down after havin' it, you'd at least be scarred for life.

[Art Petersn]

I really don't think it would be a wise choice not to get it.
They must know something or they would not be spending the money on it.

[greensideout]

Need some help on this. (I really hate to ask for help---it's so un-Marine). Why is the news saying that no one under age 18 should receive the shot? You can join up at 17. Yes they do know something, but shouldn't we know too? What about the kids?

[firstsgtmike]

greensideout:

"Need some help on this. (I really hate to ask for help---it's so un-Marine)."

If a Marine cannot turn to his brothers, what the hell are we here for?

I thought we learned in bootcamp that a Marine depends on, relies on, and gives unconditional support to his brother Marine, and THAT is what makes us MARINES.

I'm too old to learn that I've been wrong all my life.

[NEWB]

Yes, I would get the shot. As was said before, it is a hell of a way to die. Did some reading on line about the illness. Had mine when I was 9

[fabboss]

thought the ones we got as kids were good for life? now they aren't, if was active duty yes would get it as an old broken down vet will wait and let the active duties get it first then its women children. Figure i'm on borrowed time anywho.

God bless us one and all!

[greensideout]

Firstsgtmike:

I know you're an old salt, so you should have been "heads up" on my question.

Tell me why we would vaccinate everyone EXCEPT the sick, lame and lazy and ANYONE WHO IS 18YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER?
It does'nt make much sense to me to save the old and give up our young. I thought it might be nice to have a new "crop" to stand the ground.

It just seemed strange to me when I saw that on the news and was asking for some ideas.

In responce to your comment---It would appear that you have been washed downed a bit from too many training sessions on the "new" leadership, "How can I help you son?" crap.
A Marine does'nt ask for help, he instead continues to do his best. When the gunny sees that he needs help, he will send it!
Yes, we are a team---but we don't ask for someone else to take-up the slack when it's our job. If we need help, it will come--Gung-Ho! That's our reputation and it stands today!

You're not wrong---just getting soft?

Semper Fi, Old salt too.

[firstsgtmike]

The posted question was, 'If on active duty, and ordered to, WOULD YOU OBEY THE ORDER'. I voted yes, and mentally questioned the question.

Would I take the shot now is a hypothetical question, since I don't believe they'd come here to administer it, even if I asked for it. Therefore, I haven't paid any attention to the news concerning it.

After confessing ignorance, I believe that if there are health and age restrictions on who will receive the innoculations, it is probably because in their cases, the health risk is greater WITH than it is without.

greensideout:

We don't have an argument. We are both looking at a different picture, and our comments would be agreed to, and better understood when we exchanged photos.

I don't think, ”I'm going to pick up a case of beer for us, will someone give me a hand carrying it back” is un-Marine. By the same token, if I saw a Marine struggling to carry a case of beer, I wouldn't wait for the gunny to tell me to help him. (I'd show him how to lighten his load.)


Semper Fi

[Barndog]

Crack that baby open and lighten the load....... dammit!!!!! Take some initative!

I was sitting here yesterday thinking - didn't we get them on our shot cards to go overseas? I don't rightly remember.

Wouldn't matter - I have Rheumatoid Arthritis - my autoimmune system goes apesh!t enough. Seems as if that last time I checked with the Doc, he didn't want me to get a flu shot.

I would suspect that would also rule out smallpox too. I could be wrong. But the last time I thought I was wrong - turns out I was just misinformed.

Besides, we're all gonna die sometime. We was all born dying. I figger it this way - when 'The Boss' pull my card out of his hand...

I'm just gonna wait to see what happens next...... the option list at that point is quite short -

Semper FI

[mrbsox]

"IF" still active duty...... was the question.... "YES"

Otherwise, I don't know, Probably. Had 1 as a kid, so I feel pretty good about survival if I got another.

To answer this for sure, I would have to weigh the risk factors of family, getting it if I did NOT get the shot. But, since I probably WOULD take it, then it becomes a mute issue, doesn't it.

Yhea.... sign me up.

[wrbones]

one in three die who are exposed to smallpox....

[greensideout]

Firstsgtmike---

Well, in a nutshell we're just Marines asking and sounding off.
As you state--If the load is heavy we will jump right in to help. Make that two cases and I'll help you lighten the load as we travel the course.
Agreed, we have no argument. But , I'd get six-packs and make more trips. We all have our own nature in this "one Corps." I think thats good, it adds many traits to the team.

No one has yet addressed my aside question. Waiting--"GULP", for the help.

Keep your socks dry! Semper Fi

[gapeach]

Already had about 5 of the vaccines would go for another one if need be.

[LongShot]

Had it once before, would do it again if offered.

[thedrifter]

1 in 3 Troops Exempt From Smallpox Vaccine

By LAURA MECKLER
Associated Press Writer
Posted December 20 2002, 8:17 AM EST

WASHINGTON -- After a week of smallpox vaccinations, more than one in three military troops have been exempted from the mandatory shots because of medical complications, underscoring the importance of careful screening to minimize dangerous side effects.

And in Israel, more than half of 42,000 health and emergency workers offered the vaccine have declined for medical and other reasons, with doctors among the most reluctant, the chief of Israel's program told an expert panel reviewing U.S. plans to resume vaccinations among civilians next month.

It highlights the need for education about both the disease and the vaccine. Routine inoculations ended in 1972, the last natural case of smallpox was in 1977, and Americans know little about smallpox today.

Yet a poll published Thursday found a majority believe the deadly disease still breaks out naturally throughout the world and can be cured.

Misconceptions like these suggest a deep public misunderstanding of smallpox, despite many months of news reports and discussion about the possibility of a bioterrorist release of the virus.

"It's staggering," said Robert J. Blendon, who directed the survey at the Harvard School of Public Health, published on the New England Journal of Medicine's Web site.

For the U.S. military, vaccinations began a week ago. In the first five days of the program, 276 people have been screened for the vaccine, with 102 -- 37 percent -- exempted for medical conditions, said Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. The others got the inoculation.

Nearly half of those exempted live with someone who would be at risk for a side effect. The vaccine is made with a live virus, and it can escape the inoculation site and infect people who come into close contact with the person vaccinated.

The most common medical conditions were skin conditions, such as eczema.

So far, there have been no serious complications, and Winkenwerder is hoping that careful screening will mean far fewer problems than were found in the U.S. smallpox program in the 1960s. During that time, there were one or two deaths for every million people vaccinated and at least 15 life-threatening complications per million.

"We're paying a whole lot more attention to screening," he said.

The vaccinations began last Friday, targeting about 500 people who would serve on smallpox response teams. In the next stage, beginning in January, the Pentagon will vaccinate about 25,000 medical teams in hospitals and large clinics, and up to a half-million troops in high-risk areas, particularly southwest Asia.

In Israel, 17,500 people have been vaccinated so far, with about 20,000 expected before the program is complete, said Dr. Yehuda L. Danon, a pediatrician at Tel Aviv University who is running the program and was the first to get the smallpox shot in Israel's new program.

About half the doctors have declined to get the vaccination, he said, adding that hospital staff decline the shot as well when the chief physician says no.

"The medical personnel (are) the most difficult to educate. The ignorance is really unbelievable," Danon told the panel convened by the Institute of Medicine.

So far, Danon said, four Israelis have been hospitalized with conditions that may have been related to the smallpox vaccination, though only two of them were clearly reactions to the vaccine.

Less serious reactions have been common. Nearly one in three experienced fatigue or weakness, 28 percent had headaches and 18 percent had muscle pain. About one in 10 were nauseated.

The data from Israel and the early experience in the military are helping U.S. health officials prepare for civilian vaccinations to resume after three decades.

First up will be about 440,000 people on hospital and health care response teams. To help educate them, officials are busy preparing detailed information about the smallpox vaccine and its risks, including graphic photographs.

"I think, realistically, a picture is worth a thousand words," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But she added that people will also be told that the risk of these complications is quite low, particularly for people who do not have skin conditions, compromised immune systems or other risk factors.

CDC officials have asked the Institute of Medicine panel for advice on their education and screening plans, as well as their plans to train doctors about smallpox and to educate the general public.

For the military, where inoculations are mandatory, some half-million troops are likely to be vaccinated, although those at risk for side effects are exempted.


Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press

Sempers,

Roger

[usmc85204]

When I was on active duty I did,now I have choice I wouldn't. I think a lot of the vaccines have changed and i just don't believe in better living through chemistry any more Nothing against those who opt for immunization..

[greybeard]

Vaccinated as a kid back in the 50's or 60's. I wouldn't do it again-my body is a temple-- I only offer it cigarettes & booze, CFS & CFB. @ my age (53) I can still out work any 2 half my age. Everything still works so far.
(pistol's still shootin, girls-just takes longer to re-load) ;)

[Rob Parry]

Apparently the smallpox vaccine we had as kids wears off after about 10 years. It didn't kill me then, but a dose of smallpox from somebody with a dishcloth as headgear would, no question I'd have the jab. Now Anthrax, that's another question entirely. The lads who came back to theUK from the Gulf last time were given whole cocktails of drugs. The docs and government here will still not admit that those drugs are affecting their lives, and some of them are either debilitated, many more have died from weird medical conditions.

[greensideout]

"I think that we had a poll that relates to this".

Yes we did!

Do you still feel the same about the vaccine?

placing in the link for GSO
http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10166