By PAUL HARASIM / RJ
A number of veterans as
well as doctors now
believe that Vietnam
veterans...could have
contracted hepatitis C
through unsafe jet gun
vaccinations.
While it’s possible the government’s position on transmission of hepatitis C among boomers may have resulted in less testing, it’s critical today boomers forget any fears of stigma and get the easy blood test.
Summary:
Approximately
174,000 veterans in
Veterans Health
Administration (VHA)
care, are diagnosed
with hepatitis C. An
additional 50,000
veterans that
have hepatitis C,
remain unidentified
in the Health
Administration.
Compelling
scientific evidence
suggest Jetgun
injectors used
during Military mass
vaccination sessions
and dental
procedures are a
risk factor and need
to be listed as a
warning for
providers to test
for hepatitis C.
UPDATE:
Petition to the
Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to
find all veterans
with hepatitis C and
provide treatment-
Communication
between Dr. Ross,
Director,
HIV, Hepatitis,
and Public Health Pathogens
Programs, Department
of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center and
HCVets.com.
Subject:
Veterans with
Hepatitis C MIA at
VHA.(Read
More)
Jetgun
(Airgun)
Injections
(AKA MUNJI
or
PCNFI)
Jetgun Vaccinator (old style)
Click to enlarge
Storage
Front View
Dr
Mohamed Alkhatib,
Infection Control
Specialist at John F
Kennedy Memorial
Hospital, who said,
"The potential for
transmission of
blood borne
pathogens like
hepatitis c is high
because of the way
this instrument was
used, stored and
cleaned and it
cannot be considered
to be sterile at any
time. All veterans
that were given
vaccines with this
instrument should be
tested for hepatitis
c and if found to be
positive, offered
treatment."
