Vaccine's role in man's death still uncertain
New autopsy on late BioPort worker not yet conclusive
by A.J. Evenson and Tim Martin
Lansing State Journal
December 15, 2000
Even with new autopsy results, medical authorities aren't
sure whether the anthrax vaccine played a role in the death of a
BioPort Corp. worker.
Richard Dunn - an employee of the Lansing labs where the
military's vaccine is made - died in July. It was three months
after the 61-year-old Ionia man received an 11th dose of the
vaccine and complained of fatigue and swelling.
Initial autopsy results cited the vaccine as a possible
factor in the string of heart attacks Dunn suffered. While the
investigation couldn't definitively prove a relationship between
the vaccine and Dunn's heart problems, it prompted further
studies by military and federal agencies.
Early reports from those investigations are still
inconclusive.
"There's no way to prove or disprove a connection
scientifically," said Stephen Cohle, the Kent County
pathologist who conducted the initial autopsy and is compiling
research results from other agencies.
Thursday, Cohle sent additional tissue samples to a
pathologist affiliated with the University of Maryland, which has
been asked to research Dunn's death for the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. Results are expected back in the next few weeks,
he said.
Already, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology confirmed
Dunn died from a rare illness that causes inflammation in the
arteries. The ailment at times has been triggered by a reaction
to the Hepatitis B vaccine, Cohle said.
Though the Armed Forces report says the anthrax vaccine
probably isn't related to Dunn's fatal heart ailment, it can't
rule out the possibility. Cohle said there is no test to
determine whether Dunn experienced his problems because of the
anthrax vaccine.
BioPort officials say they support the ongoing investigation,
and have begun their own system to track possible reactions to
the controversial vaccine.
"All we can do is continue to support looking at every
bit of evidence we can," said Dr. Tom Waytes, a BioPort vice
president.
The vaccination program has come under fire for safety and
financial concerns.
The Pentagon maintains the program is safe, and necessary to
protect troops against anthrax - a deadly biological weapon
possessed by Iraq and several other nations.
The Pentagon wants to vaccinate all 2.4 million of its active
and reserve troops against anthrax. But only 480,000 military
personnel have received the drug since 1998, and the vaccine is
now reserved only for troops headed to the Persian Gulf.
Supplies are low because BioPort has not won FDA approval to
make vaccine at its renovated Lansing labs. Approval is expected
in mid-2001.
Contact A.J. Evenson at 377-1015 or aevenson@lsj.com, or Tim
Martin at 377-1061 or tmartin@lsj.com.