Vaccine ban for pregnant servicewomen reiterated

National Guard, Feb 2002

NEWSBREAKS

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs William Winkenwerder issued policy guidance Jan. 17 reiterating a long-standing Defense Department policy to avoid immunizing servicewomen during pregnancy.

The action was taken because of preliminary data from a Naval Health Research Center study of women who received the anthrax vaccine.

The data, which has not been peerreviewed and will require further validation, identified a possible relationship between vaccination in the first trimester and an increase in birth defects.

Because the data supporting the study showed that a number of women might have received the anthrax vaccine beyond the first trimester, study data is now being re-validated. The final report will be available after peerreview of the study is completed.

"Although these study results are preliminary and there are significant concerns about the database that require further investigation before any conclusions can be made, we are taking these steps to reaffirm our existing policies," Winkenwerder said.