U.S.

Pentagon's Anthrax 'Micro-Mutiny'

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 17, 1998 / 8:50 PM EDT / CBS

At least 16 sailors and airmen have refused to be vaccinated against anthrax, one of the biological warfare agents Saddam Hussein is believed to be hiding, CBS News Correspondent David Martin reports.

More than 30,000 service men and women have taken their shots. But the micro-mutiny -- at a time when troops are constantly on guard against chemical or biological attack -- is a cause of concern to army's top medical brass.

"Anytime someone is so concerned with something that we're doing that they refuse to take something that's potentially life saving for them, it's of great concern to me," says Lt. General Ronald Blanck, the Army's Surgeon General.

The medical mutineers appear to be reacting to warnings sent over the Internet by Patrick Eddington, a former CIA analyst.

"You have questions about safety and purity, you have questions about informed consent and you have basic questions about the military effectiveness of the vaccine," says Eddington.

The Army is not impressed with Eddington's views.

"I've read some of the things on the Internet...And I think they're irresponsible and I can't say that they're based on any facts," says Blanck.

However, the plant that makes the anthrax vaccine has been plagued with problems. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration threatened to revoke its license in 1997.

Documents obtained by CBS News Producer Vince Gonzales show that an inspection conducted earlier this year found dozens of violations on the anthrax production line.

According to Blanck, the Army was so alarmed by the findings, that they decided to undertake a supplemental testing of the vaccine - which Blanck says showed no threat to soldiers.

But the troops have the Internet to remind them that during the gulf war, the Pentagon dispensed medication it then considered to be safe, but which it now suspects of being one of the causes of Gulf War Illness.