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April 28, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Fort Drum Soldier On Trial for Refusing Vaccine"

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (04/27/03)

An Army reservist is being tried for refusing to be inoculated with the anthrax vaccine.  Citing religious and medical reasons, Pvt. Kamila Iwanowska faces a court-martial for refusing to obey a lawful order. Military prosecutors charge that Pvt. Iwanowska disobeyed orders when she refused to get an anthrax shot at Fort Drum along with the rest of her unit prior to their deployment to the Middle East in January.  But Iwanowska, who is a Roman Catholic, maintains a belief that the shot poses dangers to children she might have in the future and may violate the respect her faith accords to the unborn.  The Pentagon says the vaccination is safe, with medical complications occurring in one in every 100,000 vaccinations.

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