Were you vaccinated for smallpox?

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Mr. Hole's address (http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/off-topic/45612-another-soldiers-address.html) thread got me thinking about all the vaccinations that the kids have to get before they deploy.

Thanks to her wonderful mother, who was able to scan and email over her complete vaccination record before she deployed (:rolleyes:), Caitlin did not have to get any of the standard immunizations. ("Mom...I'm at the doctor's office. I need my immunization record. Is there any way you can get it here in the next 90 seconds?") I think she got one tetanus booster, but that was it.

However, she did have to get smallpox before she left, along with the anthrax vaccination. In the week following, she was asking me if the scabbing and itching of the vaccination site (smallpox) was normal. I was like...I have no fu(king idea. Google it.

I was nicer in my answer. But it occurred to me that I never had the smallpox vaccine. They stopped giving it by the time I was born. But my mom had it...along with a small, circular scar in her arm.

How many other people never had the smallpox vaccine?

(On a side note, Caitlin will never have chickenpox. They're all vaccinated for it now. We all had chickenpox when we were younger...it was just part of growing up. :island14:)

[Bill]

Lots of officers and enlisted in various service branches were refusing the anthrax vaccine several years ago, IIRC.

March 11, 1999, 09:01 p.m.

Armed Services opt to discharge those who refuse vaccine
By STEVEN LEE MYERS
New York Times

FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- The short, happy military career of Jeffrey A. Bettendorf ended abruptly this week.

After threatening him with court-martial, the Air Force discharged Airman 1st Class Bettendorf under "other than honorable conditions" because he refused to take a vaccine that the Pentagon says could save his life one day.

The vaccine is meant to protect against an attack with anthrax, one of the deadliest biological agents turned into a weapon. But Bettendorf, once a senior airman with an untarnished record, came to believe that the Pentagon had never proved the vaccine's safety and effectiveness.

Hours after signing the papers that ended his service after nearly seven years, Bettendorf said there were other jobs "where people aren't all over you, saying what you can and can't do with your body."

Bettendorf is not alone in his defiance. The Los Angeles times reported that the Navy said on Thursday that 29 members on the Norfolk, Va.-based nuclear aircraft carrier U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt have been demoted, fined, jailed for up to 45 days, or given extra duty for refusing to undergo the mandatory anthrax shots.

Sixteen months after Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen announced that all 2.4 million military personnel, whether on active duty or in the reserves or national guard, would be vaccinated, the Pentagon is facing a rebellion from a small, but growing number of those who have refused.

Only 100 or so of the 218,000 military personnel who have started receiving the first of six shots that are required have resisted and subsequently been punished. So the Pentagon dismisses the resistance as insignificant, although officials stopped counting how many refuse the vaccine.

But in spite of furious efforts by the Pentagon to tamp down what it considers insidious misinformation about the vaccine, the resistance continues. Efforts have included senior officers taking the vaccine in public and an unusual memorandum to all Marines from the Marine Corps commandant, Gen. Charles C. Krulak.

"I think it speaks to the undercurrent of distrust of the government and the military," said Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, the surgeon general of the Army, the service that oversees the vaccination program. "Agent Orange. Nuclear tests in the '50s. People say, `How can you say this is safe?' Clearly, we have a credibility problem."

The Pentagon requires a variety of basic vaccinations. While the Pentagon previously has vaccinated soldiers against biological agents, including 150,000 vaccinated against anthrax in the Persian Gulf War, it has never before tried to inoculate the entire military to counter a threat from a biological or chemical weapon.

There is no evidence that any army has used anthrax in combat, but the Pentagon has grown increasingly concerned by the threat of biological or chemical attack. Anthrax, a naturally occurring bacteria found in domesticated animals, can with relative ease be produced as dry spores that, when inhaled, cause death within a few days.

A vaccine was developed in the 1950s and approved by the Food and Drug Administration for general use in 1970.

The refusals began with troops in the Pacific and the Persian Gulf, who were the first to receive the vaccination because of their proximity to North Korea and Iraq -- countries believed to have biological weapons. The number of refusals is expected to grow as the vaccination program moves to bases in the United States.

To refuse the vaccination is to disobey an order. Each of the services is responsible for its own discipline, but because commanders cannot force the shots on subordinates, most cases have ended with discharges -- some general, some bad conduct.

The Marine Corps, in particular, has been hit hard. More than two dozen Marines in Okinawa, Japan, have refused. At the sprawling desert base at Twentynine Palms, Calif., another 10 have declined.

The resisters cite a plethora of reasons. They note that there is no way to test the vaccine on the form of anthrax used in weapons and they criticize the dearth of follow-up research on those who did receive it in the Gulf War. They also point to two FDA reports critical of the vaccine's manufacturer, the Michigan Biologic Products Institute, a state agency sold last September to a private company, the Bioport Corp. of Lansing, Mich., which a month later received a $29 million contract from the Pentagon to produce the vaccine.

The Pentagon insists the program is safe and effective, saying the criticism of the manufacturer had no effect on the vaccine.


Gulf War Vets Home Page.

[NavyC5]

I got it before I went to Iraq. Yes the scabbing and itching is normal. Followed shortly by oozing.

Tell her to avoid all contact with it. What she has is a single smallpox blister. If she scratches it and spreads the cells she can develop a full blow case of smallpox :seasix:

[VatorMan]

Everyone should avoid the Anthrax vaccine. PLEASE get Anthrax. My wifes company makes the antidote for it. :hurray:

[beadist]

I got both the smallpox and polio vaccine as a kid. We had to go to the high school and line up to get the polio vaccine. I think they did all the kids in town in one weekend. They may have done the adults too.

I wish they'd had the chickenpox and mumps vaccines back then.

[DJ_Critterus]

<----- can't take the smallpox vaccination due to certain medical issues. Hell, I can't even give blood because of the time period when I was being raised in Italy.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Lots of officers and enlisted in various service branches were refusing the anthrax vaccine several years ago, IIRC.

Yes, one of my friends was in the Marine Corp and he refused it. He eventually received a "less than honorable" (something like that) discharge over it. This was in the 90s, shortly after we got out of high school and he enlisted.

I believe that he has a way to have that changed now, but he's lazy. I doubt he'll have it changed.

I got it before I went to Iraq. Yes the scabbing and itching is normal. Followed shortly by oozing.

Tell her to avoid all contact with it. What she has is a single smallpox blister. If she scratches it and spreads the cells she can develop a full blow case of smallpox :seasix:

It's long healed by now. Mr. Hole's thread just reminded me of it. I told her to either google it or call her grandmother. :leaving:

[DJ_Critterus]

It's long healed by now. Mr. Hole's thread just reminded me of it. I told her to either google it or call her grandmother. :leaving:

I saw some dumbass infantry grunt trying to get a tattoo a couple days after he got his SP shot. The shop manager literally pushed him out of the door and told him to come back in two months.

[Mirroredshades]

They stopped doing it sometime right around 1970. My cousin (no pics) got the shot and I didn't.

:seasix:

[NEED-A-VETTE]

I saw some dumbass infantry grunt trying to get a tattoo a couple days after he got his SP shot. The shop manager literally pushed him out of the door and told him to come back in two months.

She got her's the last week of October. About two weeks before she left (November 11th).

I can't believe almost 2 months of her deployment is over already!!!

[DJ_Critterus]

She got her's the last week of October. About two weeks before she left (November 11th).

I can't believe almost 2 months of her deployment is over already!!!

Believe it or not, deployments go by quick...even for those stuck in that shithole wishing they weren't. She'll think Manas AFB in Kyrghystan is heaven on the way home.

[mike100]

I don't know when I got mine (born in 1969), but at least the nurse or doctor who administered the vaccination did it to the inside of my arm near the armpit rather than on the outside where it shows. Everybody my age in school had the mark.

[ZipZap]

I'm old enough to have got it as a kid. In the AF, we always received all of the shots that made us deployable at any point. The one that knocked me on my azz was Yellow Fever. For some reason, about three hours after I got one of those I would get the cold sweats and get dizzy in a bad way.

It's interesting that the normal civilian inoculations have been changing over the last ten years to recognize the emerging threats that we thought were gone.

[Bill]

I'm old enough to have got it as a kid. In the AF, we always received all of the shots that made us deployable at any point. The one that knocked me on my azz was Yellow Fever. For some reason, about three hours after I got one of those I would get the cold sweats and get dizzy in a bad way.

It's interesting that the normal civilian inoculations have been changing over the last ten years to recognize the emerging threats that we thought were gone.

That's because govt. recognizes that all sorts of unvaccinated 3rd world illegals are here in the US, even though govt. refuses to boot them out. Instead of getting rid of the problem, they (forcibly) treat the symptom by forcibly vaccinating citizen kids for 3rd world diseases. If you come here legally, .gov makes sure you have the proper vaccinations. Border jumpers, not so much.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

I'm old enough to have got it as a kid. In the AF, we always received all of the shots that made us deployable at any point. The one that knocked me on my azz was Yellow Fever. For some reason, about three hours after I got one of those I would get the cold sweats and get dizzy in a bad way.

It's interesting that the normal civilian inoculations have been changing over the last ten years to recognize the emerging threats that we thought were gone.

I'm not sure whether or not she got the yellow fever vaccine. She didn't mention it. That doesn't mean she didn't get it, though. :island14:

I only remember her mentioning the smallpox and anthrax. Specifically because I told her (as she was jumping on me repeatedly on the bed...as I was trying to put my shoes on...just to aggravate) to knock it off because her anthrax was oozing onto me. :leaving:

[BuckyThreadkiller]

As a child of the 60s I was vaccinated against damn near everything - TB, polio, smallpox, tetanus, measles, mumps and diphtheria.


I caught chicken pox.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

As a child of the 60s I was vaccinated against damn near everything - TB, polio, smallpox, tetanus, measles, mumps and diphtheria.


I caught chicken pox.

Got all those, I think. Except smallpox.

[BuckyThreadkiller]

Got all those, I think. Except smallpox.

I still have the nifty round scar on my left arm.

[mike100]

I still have the nifty round scar on my left arm.

yep...left, I had to look- couldn't see it but can still feel it.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

I still have the nifty round scar on my left arm.

yep...left, I had to look- couldn't see it but can still feel it.

My mom and Nox also have that scar. I don't think the kids get a scar now. Must've switched up the delivery method. :island14:

[DJ_Critterus]

My mom and Nox also have that scar. I don't think the kids get a scar now. Must e switched up the delivery method. :island14:

No more air guns. Its a regular needle now.

[LT4fun]

I was born in November of 1969 and have the round scar on one of my arms from the smallpox vaccine.

I caught chicken pox as a baby since there was no vaccine and have a nice scar( a little divot) from that on my forehead too.

[LilRedCorvette]

Did not get the smallpox vaccine. Pretty sure I had the polio, measles, mumps, diphtheria, and tetanus vaccines.

I got scarlet fever, chickenpox, and mono w/Type A strep when I was younger. The latter almost killed me.

I've had 3 yrs of chemo. I'm not allowed live vaccines, and cannot donate blood, bone marrow, etc. Also not an organ donor.

To say I don't have a strong immune system is the understatement of the century...but I'm still alive and kicking so :seasix:

[Norm]

Speaking of chickenpox, for those that are getting closer to their senior years, don't forget that shingles shot. Got one last year, remembered what my Mom went through with shingles, was very painful for her.

[Nox]

My mom and Nox also have that scar. I don't think the kids get a scar now. Must've switched up the delivery method. :island14:

WTF are you talking about? That's where I got shot, that one time.... :leaving:

[Doug28450]

As a child of the 60s I was vaccinated against damn near everything - TB, polio, smallpox, tetanus, measles, mumps and diphtheria.


I caught chicken pox.

I win.

I caught TB.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

WTF are you talking about? That's where I got shot, that one time.... :leaving:

Well, you are closer to my mom's age than mine, soooooooo...

:leaving:

I win.

I caught TB.

Since I work in healthcare and come into contact with patients, I have to get an annual TB test. A few of my staff have had TB in the past and the traditional skin test is pretty worthless on them. They have to do the blood test, as the skin test will almost always give a positive reading.

[Doug28450]

Since I work in healthcare and come into contact with patients, I have to get an annual TB test. A few of my staff have had TB in the past and the traditional skin test is pretty worthless on them. They have to do the blood test, as the skin test will almost always give a positive reading.

I can't do any of the skin tests, they will all show positive. I can only get lung x-rays for testing.

[PortDawg]

I've gotten the Small Pox vaccine at least twice...7 Anthrax shots and don't get me started on all the rest....

My all time favorite gamma globulin...WORST....SHOT.....EVER.....

SOOOOOO glad I retired....

[boracayjohnny]

I'm not sure whether or not she got the yellow fever vaccine. She didn't mention it. That doesn't mean she didn't get it, though. :island14:

I only remember her mentioning the smallpox and anthrax. Specifically because I told her (as she was jumping on me repeatedly on the bed...as I was trying to put my shoes on...just to aggravate) to knock it off because her anthrax was oozing onto me. :leaving:

Before she deployed, she made the list of "World Wide Qualified". That means all shots are up to date. The shots have varying time frames of, iirc, one to five years. So, she's set for all the cooties.

I've gotten the Small Pox vaccine at least twice...7 Anthrax shots and don't get me started on all the rest....

My all time favorite gamma globulin...WORST....SHOT.....EVER.....

SOOOOOO glad I retired....

Yes, that one had a punch to it. The one I most remember is Phenergran. I still remember that mofo many years later. I'd been hit with a nasty virus and made a trip to the ER twice in one day which is a story in itself. Anyway, the same doc told me he wouldn't see me again. :D I thought an elephant was coming out of that needle. I might've even let out a loud "shit". :D:D

[xXBUDXx]

I'm so mean, I make Smallpox sick. :slap:

[ZipZap]

My mom and Nox also have that scar. I don't think the kids get a scar now. Must've switched up the delivery method. :island14:

The delivery method in the old days (the one I got in the 60's) was to scrape your upper arm with one of those devices they use to prick your finger for a blood test, then spread the virus goo on the cut up area. That is what created the rather large scar.

Today the process is similar, but they use a short needle carrying the virus goo to poke numerous times over a small area. A small pustule occurs, followed by a much smaller scab and scar than the old days.

[ft laud mike]

No more air guns. Its a regular needle now.
I remember those things going through the first couple of days before boot camp, line up... and down the gauntlet. Im sure it was only 6-10 shots, seemed like a ton, and the med tech screaming "do not flinch!", I wondered why for about 25 seconds, 2ndor third kid flinched- big bloody mess
WTF are you talking about? That's where I got shot, that one time.... :leaving:

And the exit wounds is....(depending on company around either lift shirt to show belly button, or drop trou and show...:leaving:)
:cert:

[Sea Six]

According to my Mom, I was vaccinated for smallpox.

Upper left arm, she says. Really high up.

I can't find the scar. :dunno:

[Burnt C6]

I got one but the mark never showed up like on most kids. My identical Twin brothers showed up though.

[Allan]

In the early 70's, Army shot records consisted of a little booklet that was stamped by the medics when they gave you a shot . . . or 50. :yesnod:

I worked @ Bn Hqs in a Basic Training Brigade. D Co. Commander, CPT Thomas Lingham - 1st class prick who always f*kd w/me.

He got deployment orders and "somehow" his entire shot record disappeared. :D

Lingham, I'm very confident you got to repeat the entire series - You're welcome, asshole!

41 years later I'd still like to run into you somewhere.

P.S. so I don't hijack the thread, yes I was inoculated for smallpox.

[JRD77VET]

I still have the nifty round scar on my left arm.

yep...left, I had to look- couldn't see it but can still feel it.

My mom and Nox also have that scar. I don't think the kids get a scar now. Must've switched up the delivery method. :island14:

According to my Mom, I was vaccinated for smallpox.

Upper left arm, she says. Really high up.

I can't find the scar. :dunno:

Mine's on back of left arm, closer to my shoulder.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Luckily, since she was in sports in high school, she had to have a minimum of one physical a year. First thing they'd do is look over her immunization record, which listed everything back to when she was born, to see if she needed any updates. She didn't need much before BMT...other than the crazy-ass stuff that they all get (which is not part of the normal immunization cycle).

It's why she was so frantic for me to send her a copy of what I had. She didn't want anything more than what was absolutely needed. :funny: I gave her a copy but kept the original. Because kids are idiots. :leaving:

[kingpin]

The only ones I got was the "attract waitresses" and "attract psycho chicks" shots.
"willy"

[sanchez]

Everyone should avoid the Anthrax vaccine. PLEASE get Anthrax. My wifes company makes the antidote for it. :hurray:

What's the antidote to Anthrax? Kenny G?

[beadist]

Speaking of chickenpox, for those that are getting closer to their senior years, don't forget that shingles shot. Got one last year, remembered what my Mom went through with shingles, was very painful for her.

I had all my shots updated a couple years ago but if I remember correctly I couldn't get the one for Shingles / Chickenpox till age 60. Strange, because I hear of much younger people getting it. It's awful....

"Shingles is a painful localized skin rash often with blisters that is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles because VZV remains in the nerve cells of the body after the chickenpox infection clears and VZV can reappear years later causing shingles. Shingles most commonly occurs in people 50 years old or older, people who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly, or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs.

Shingles vaccine is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to reduce the risk of shingles and its associated pain in people 60 years old or older."

[Cybercowboy]

I was vaccinated for smallpox, polio, all that jazz. Got chickenpox and gave it to my brother and sisters. We all had it together and since my mom and dad had not had it, my grandparents (father's parents) took care of us. Even though grandpa had chickenpox when he was a kid, he got it again from us.

When my sisters got the mumps as 3-year-olds, my father caught it and was in the hospital for two weeks. It's damn serious if you're an adult apparently. No big deal for a kid. I caught it too, don't remember having it though.

[6spdC6]

Speaking of chickenpox, for those that are getting closer to their senior years, don't forget that shingles shot. Got one last year, remembered what my Mom went through with shingles, was very painful for her.

VERY GOOD ADVICE!:hurray:



Born in mid 40s so I had most all the shots possible. Remember well walking about a mile with my grade school class to the school that was giving the polio shots.

I had chickenpox as a kid and about 10 years ago its good buddy shingles came by to say hello. Wow is that shit nasty. I like to describe it as felling like your skin is on fire and someone is try to put it out using a ice pick. Nights were the worse as at best I’m a very light sleeper, my Doc gave me a script for a good narcotic pain killer. The only way I could get any sleep was to pop double doses at bed time.

FWIW my Doc. gave me a shingles vaccine shot a few weeks ago as he said it can come back.

[Flatbush Harry]

Mr. Hole's address (http://www.thevettebarn.com/forums/off-topic/45612-another-soldiers-address.html) thread got me thinking about all the vaccinations that the kids have to get before they deploy.

Thanks to her wonderful mother, who was able to scan and email over her complete vaccination record before she deployed (:rolleyes:), Caitlin did not have to get any of the standard immunizations. ("Mom...I'm at the doctor's office. I need my immunization record. Is there any way you can get it here in the next 90 seconds?") I think she got one tetanus booster, but that was it.

However, she did have to get smallpox before she left, along with the anthrax vaccination. In the week following, she was asking me if the scabbing and itching of the vaccination site (smallpox) was normal. I was like...I have no fu(king idea. Google it.

I was nicer in my answer. But it occurred to me that I never had the smallpox vaccine. They stopped giving it by the time I was born. But my mom had it...along with a small, circular scar in her arm.

How many other people never had the smallpox vaccine?

(On a side note, Caitlin will never have chickenpox. They're all vaccinated for it now. We all had chickenpox when we were younger...it was just part of growing up. :island14:)

Old farts like me had it. Also chickenpox. Now I need to get a shingles vaccine because chicken pockies come back to haunt you years later.

Hyrar

[NEED-A-VETTE]

Old farts like me had it. Also chickenpox. Now I need to get a shingles vaccine because chicken pockies come back to haunt you years later.

Hyrar

I'll eventually have to get the shingles shot because we (my sisters and I) all caught chickenpox when we were kids. From all the stories here...I do not want shingles. :ack: I wonder what the minimum recommended age is for the shot. Might start on that soon. :leaving:

[kingpin]

I'll eventually have to get the shingles shot because we (my sisters and I) all caught chickenpox when we were kids. From all the stories here...I do not want shingles. :ack: I wonder what the minimum recommended age is for the shot. Might start on that soon. :leaving:

55. So you're 2 years past. Better hurry up deary! :waiting:

[NEED-A-VETTE]

55. So you're 2 years past. Better hurry up deary! :waiting:

Then you're already one year past. Maybe we should go together. I'll hold your hand while the big, mean man pokes you.

:leaving:

[snide]

My scar is gone now.

[ZipZap]

I'll hold your hand while the big, mean man pokes you.
:leaving:

That's xHamster chit right there:rofl::rofl:

[kingpin]

Then you're already one year past. Maybe we should go together. I'll hold your hand while the big, mean man pokes you.

:leaving:

If you weren't married I'd have a mean man poking joke for you but since I am Canadian and was raised with manners I will keep it to myself.

:dance:

Damn it would of been good though. :D

[Sea Six]

My scar is gone now.

[Eddie Murphy Doing Oriental Man Impresson]ICanFinMine![/emdom]

[NEED-A-VETTE]

If you weren't married I'd have a mean man poking joke for you but since I am Canadian and was raised with manners I will keep it to myself.

:dance:

Damn it would of been good though. :D

I was talking about the needle on the shot. Good thing I didn't add anything about a lollipop on the way out...if you were good.

You're a dirty, dirty boy. :slap:





:D

[mrvette]

I had all my shots updated a couple years ago but if I remember correctly I couldn't get the one for Shingles / Chickenpox till age 60. Strange, because I hear of much younger people getting it. It's awful....

"Shingles is a painful localized skin rash often with blisters that is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox. Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles because VZV remains in the nerve cells of the body after the chickenpox infection clears and VZV can reappear years later causing shingles. Shingles most commonly occurs in people 50 years old or older, people who have medical conditions that keep the immune system from working properly, or people who receive immunosuppressive drugs.

Shingles vaccine is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to reduce the risk of shingles and its associated pain in people 60 years old or older."

You say PAINFUL, you mean itching to drive you krazy?? or just minor itching, making you scratch once in a while?? I suffer pretty bad with arthritis, and have had skin rashes all my life, heard of this shingles, and seen signs outside various pharmacies for shots to help cure/relief it, but not sure WTF I have.....when an itch gets BAD, I soak it down in rubbing alcohol... which stings, but cures the itch for some time....

born in '44 so I suppose have most of the shots over time, including the array that knocked my ass horizontal in '66 at Ft. Bragg.....rather had my shots like the kids today, in a bar with weird shaped colored glass.....

:shots::shots::shots::dance:

[HeatherO]

I never had one, neither did my kids.
Parents and sisters have had them.

[NEED-A-VETTE]

You say PAINFUL, you mean itching to drive you krazy?? or just minor itching, making you scratch once in a while?? I suffer pretty bad with arthritis, and have had skin rashes all my life, heard of this shingles, and seen signs outside various pharmacies for shots to help cure/relief it, but not sure WTF I have.....when an itch gets BAD, I soak it down in rubbing alcohol... which stings, but cures the itch for some time....

born in '44 so I suppose have most of the shots over time, including the array that knocked my ass horizontal in '66 at Ft. Bragg.....rather had my shots like the kids today, in a bar with weird shaped colored glass.....

:shots::shots::shots::dance:

I'm sure it varies from person to person...the severity. However, from what I've been reading, it's actually physically painful. The itching is almost unbearable for some people, which is in addition to the pain.

Yeah, I'll be getting that damn shot as soon as the doc recommends it. :willy:

[Mr Hole]

I still have the nifty round scar on my left arm.

:withstupid: