Hepatitis C and vaccine gun

[gooseberry]

Just listened to a report on high rates of hepatitis c in veterans from Vietnam thru 1997. Apparently if you flinch when getting these shots the skin would break.

I am really interested in this because this is how Steve got his shots. The air gun apparently forced the vaccine thru the skin at 150psi. When bloodied it wasnt disinfected.

 

[gooseberry]

Hepatitis C: Military-Related Blood Exposures, Risk Factors, VA Care - Viral Hepatitis

In a 2005 judgement the judge ruled hepatitis c is service connected with no iv drug use, etc.

 

[affected]

Interestingly Hep C has been around a very long time, it just was only that in the 1980's it was identified as separate from other viral hepatitis.

The main mode of infection in the ancient past, before IV drug use was around was 2 main modes:

1. male - male through blood sports and combat (when people used to fight with weapons and bleed all over each other and be treated on the battle field without washing anything between patients)

2. male - female through domestic violence

 

[gooseberry]

They are saying the vaccination air gun would get contaminated with blood if the serviceman flinched. Steve passed out after he got all his shots to go to the middle east.

 

[Nuts]

I remember those guns from basic training--they were awful.