Blackout: Military Personnel Banned From H1N1 Vaccine Sites

UPDATE BELOW

If you want to draw attention to a problem, try hiding it. That's the strategy of several military bases when it comes to the H1N1 vaccine.

Shortly after the Pentagon announced that all Armed Services personnel would soon be facing a mandatory H1N1 vaccination program, I started receiving email from soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors because of a previous story I had written on the anthrax vaccine. Mandatory vaccine programs are a sensitive subject in the military, so it's not a huge surprise that swift and visceral reactions to the program gained speed.

With a vaccine that was so new and little known about it, like many Americans, troops were heading to the web to find answers to their very legitimate questions -- not only for themselves, but for their families who have the option of receiving the vaccine on base. What they found instead is that several websites and blogs with key information asking critical questions had been blocked from their viewing.

Among those that were repeatedly mentioned as blocked sites are the National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC), the site for Gary Matsumoto's book Vaccine-A, and vaccine expert Dr. Meryl Nass. NVIC is a national, non-profit founded in 1980s that, through public education, advocates "vaccine safety and informed consent protections in the mass vaccination system." Matsumoto's site contains a forum in which thousands upon thousands of service members have posted testimonies regarding their experiences with the anthrax vaccine. And Nass is one of the world's foremost experts on vaccines who has testified in front of Congressional committees -- and, I might add, never has had a malpractice suit brought against her.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sites, however, are all available for military personnel. The official word from governmental agencies is welcome but critics, regardless of whether they were considered experts, are not.

According to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, the only blocking of websites Pentagon-wide was in 2007, when a number of heavy-trafficked sites that "used lots of bandwidth" had to be denied to reduce the wear on networks "to ensure they continued to be available for mission requirements."

That turns out not to be entirely accurate.

Some of you may recall the reporting earlier this year when wired.com's Danger Room blog reported that the Pentagon was blocking not only YouTube, but even their own TroopTube.

When TroopTube launched last November, for instance, it was billed as an answer to the bandwidth and security concerns surrounding other video sites. TroopTube "crunches video files into several sizes and automatically plays the one that best suits viewers' Internet connection speeds," the Associated Press reported at the time. And "a Pentagon employee screens each [upload] for taste, copyright violations and national security issues."

Nonetheless, the public affairs office at the Pentagon further instructed me that "anything that may be blocked at the Service or base level should be addressed there -- it's a local issue."

Since I had the most information (and the most complaints) about Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, that's where I directed my questions. After repeated email and phones calls, nearly two weeks later a spokesperson for Wright-Patterson told me that:

The Air Force general policy is all websites are placed into categories based upon their content and intended audience. All unethical categories are blocked as are any sites that are uncategorized. Currently the sites referenced are blocked because they are uncategorized.

A wholly unsatisfactory answer that side-stepped the question, I took this statement to mean that blocking these websites had nothing to do with bandwidth use as in the Pentagon statement and everything to do with the content.

I asked the follow-up question: Since this is a recent decision to block them, why would they not just be categorized rather than being uncategorized? As a result, they would not be blocked for educational purposes of service personnel who have a mandatory H1N1 vaccination program?

Wright-Patterson did not respond to this question.

Making sure that servicemen and servicewomen consent to the vaccine and are informed is apparently not a concern for the Department of Defense. But the message is very clear for one service member who contacted me: "All you need to know is what we're telling you, so shut up and take the vaccine with no questions asked."

Nass, one of the experts whose site has been blocked, points out the real shame in all of this: "It's unfortunate that the service members who are defending our civil rights are not afforded the same consideration."

Note: If you're on a base that has blocked websites related to the H1N1 vaccine, I'd love to know what sites are blocked and what base you're on. You can post the info in the comments below or contact me directly.

UPDATE (11/18/09): See my piece on how the Air Force is now requiring that children in on-base daycare to get the vaccine.

 

Follow Allen McDuffee on Twitter: www.twitter.com/allen_mcduffee

Comments

[mofmars333]

See this recent historical debate.

Mr. Betz, from the government who opposed Dr. Tenpenny & Dawn, introduced his colleagues with him as his "partners in crime" & I don't think he was kidding.

Debate;

http://www.blip.tv/file/2839117

[stargazer13]

the American people should stand up now for our troop,s

to be used, manipulated , and kept in the dark on purpose !!

where ? are the Brave ones in the land called freedom !

[stargazer13]

speaking of of vaccines Poles are not buying and Ukraine has some thing nasty going on 8 different flu virus,s

lungs look burnt Doc said !!

[mofmars333]

I sent this to Allen & said I'd post it here. Everyone needs to know about this & be sure to scroll down at the second link to see the important video concerning what is said to be the worst cover up in the history of the military.

It was stated when this comes out, it will make the Walter Reed scandal pale in comparison.

NBC reports on secret shots leaving many on the brink of death in the military & it was found the mystery shots were flu vaccine.

A highly praised Department of Defense Medical Officer disclosed that thousands are having severe reactions & he believes they are being used as guinea pigs in experiments.

"The ‘big lie" H1N1 coincidences, contradictions and conspiring"

Part 1

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10438-Peace-Studies-Examiner~y2009m8d27-The-big-lie-H1N1-coincidence-contradiction-and-conspiring

Part 2

http://www.examiner.com/x-10438-Peace-Studies-Examiner~y2009m8d28-The-big-lie-H1N1-coincidence-contradiction-conspiring-part-II

[freedomthrutruth]

Without widespread ignorance among Americans, the military would exist for defensive purposes only and as such would choose not to invade other countries based on falsehoods (Saddam has weapons of mass destruction). As well, if the soldiers subject to taking those vaccines understood all existing ingredients in them, none would take them. Also, the whole idea of being forced to take something that might kill you or cause horrific neurological damage would likely lead to mutiny, but because of ubiquitous ignorance, the opposite tends to occur: compliance with a program designed to cull whole populations.

[fred53]

And this is why God invented proxy servers

[Jani11]

Yes, the Military sucks when it comes to vaccine freedoms. And that needs to be addressed, but this article won't help that.
As far as I understand, they are only blocking sites on government computers. These are essentially equal to a company computer in a civilian job market that has high security protocols. Now, most large companies restrict websites that their employees can view as well. This has been common practice for many years. It's not that they think you shouldn't be viewing porn or any other sites, it's that they don't want you to do it on their computers or during work hours. Especially given the risk of virus's or security information that might be held on those computers finding it's way into the hands of others. Civilian companies practice this alot and really watch what goes on. Some more than others of course. But you would expect our military to do their best to keep their troop information secret. Especially during a time of conflicts in multiple places. It's just common sense. As for the other sites that are allowed; the ones you mentioned in your article are all government websites. Those are typically always allowed because there can be a need to access certain types of sites. It's pretty standard that all government sites are allowed on a government computer.
Now, if the military base decided to start regulating the internet that went to their soldier who reside in military housing, then there would be a problem!

[ThinkTankNathaniel]

Nice treatise, but did you even read the article? The public affairs officer at Wright-Patterson explicitly said that it was the CONTENT that was the problem. Not that it was a security risk, not that it violates usage policy--it was the CONTENT.

Why are you giving every excuse for the military and ignoring exactly what they're explicitly stating? The Wright-Patterson officer is telling you directly that it's the content and you're talking about everything but the content. What do you need to be hit over the head with to get exactly what the military is telling you?

[Jani11]

I did read the entire article, and I understand what was said. But, the site only allowed me to post so much. I had to delete alot of my post to fit it in. lol.
I am not making excuses for the military. And it very well might be the content. But think about what that means. It could be alot more than just anti vaccines. It could be both content and security issues. Really, all it comes down to is that in this instance, they are not taking any rights away from the soldiers by not allowing them to view most webpages, and the soldiers shouldn't be at work surfing the net anyhow. That's what their home computers are for, or they also have computer shops for those in AIT where they can go and surf for a fee. The same thing happens in alot of big companies! It's nothing new.
I think there's alot more inportant things to talk about when it comes to the military and vaccines. Like their lack of recognizing side effects or following basic rules like only one shot at a time, or not when you're sick. Allowing soldiers to choose to get the shots or not. Or how and when to get them. Or even getting them from their own doctor instead of in a line with tons of other soldiers and waiting till you get to the front and getting an arm full all at once. Not fun!

[Jani11]

And I was just wondering why you're so angry and talking about hitting me over the head?
I thought this was just a friendly debate, not a fight. I didn't post anything agressive. Can we talk in a non agressive way?

[Gorilla on wheels]

A hint for this article, post the full URL and why it would be important. Then if the reader wants too and deems that its important enough to read at work instead at home, then they can go through correct approval channels to get those URL or URL's unblocked. Just because something is blocked right off the bat doesn't mean its a full on assault to limit information on critical issues. Working in IT and probably on the same stuff as the military, only a guess, then I would have to say that blocking and unblocking a website is easy and blocked websites comes up more often than not. People have to remember that if its not relevant to work then why should it be unblocked and most IT people will tell you to look it up on your own personal internet service. No conspiracy here.

[Mnemanth]

Sorry, I'm not buying the hype. I'm not getting this ridiculous "vaccine", just as I refused to take the anthrax vaccine while I was in the service.
Something flat out wrong about a substance that has had no study time, no proven history of effectiveness, unknown side effects, but got pushed straight though the FDA under the umbrella of "Be Afraid! Be Afraid!"

[mbaty]

I think it's pretty clear that something strange is up with this vaccine hype. Just say no to the swine shot.

[Athenais]

This should be on the front page. Just 12 comments. What Big Pharma is doing is sick and insane. Will order Mr Matsumoto's book before it becomes "unavailable".

[JennyHatch]

I just posted this on Free Republic and my blog: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2382562/posts

Blog: http://naturalfamilyblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/allen-mcduffee-at-huff-po-blackout-military-personnel-banned-from-h1n1-vaccine-sites/

I'm also organizing a protest against forced vaccinations: http://naturalfamilyblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/2115/

And the H1N1 flu frauds catagory on my blog has a complete roundup of videos, links, articles and more: http://naturalfamilyblog.wordpress.com/category/h1n1-flu-frauds/

Jenny Hatch

[JennyHatch]

Free Republic Moderator pulled it damn fast. I'm really getting peeved...

[sloppybear16]

Obama and Sebelius say its fine, so what are people worried about. They would never tell a fib that would benefit drug companies.

"Just get your damn vaccine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMqYlnAiIUU&feature=player_embedded#

[USAPatriot1966]

I was ordered to take the Anthrax vaccine and its booster shots for a tour to Korea in 2000.

After the second booster shot and completing my tour of duty I was at home in bed. At 2:30 AM I woke up and could not breath. I was taken by ambulance to the ER. The army did not know what I had. It felt like a ton of bricks was on my chest. Eventually I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. It appeared to be a brain dysfunction and I SUSPECT it to be with Anthrax. I have met several veterans with the same problem. THEY SUSPECT IT AS WELL!

Be careful and chose wisely! God Bless- I am out due to retirement and disability. I am refusing the H1N1

[Allen McDuffee - Huffpost Blogger]

USAPatriot1966: Please contact me. I'm working on the anthrax vaccine story and would love to talk more with you. email: allen [at] governmentalityblog [dot] com

[ndem]

During the first Gulf War soldiers were used as guinea pigs by biotech companies and were given many vaccines which were not identified. One company was being sued by sick vets, Tanos, which they claimed tested a highly experiemental AIDS vaccine, the hiv1 viral envelope filled with mycroplasma fermentans, the patent of which is held by Shyh Ching Lo, who worked for both the military biowarfare labs and was on loan to Tanox.

Beware soldiers! Don't be used. Tanox was the biggest biotech IPO at the time...follow the money trail...human testing is the most expensive part of the FDA approval process.

[Mnemanth]

PB was some great stuff! I came home from Iraq and didn't sleep for days on end. This went on for years.