AF Times Editorial...Vaccine Policy at Issue (Anthrax)

[Guest guest]

Editorial: Vaccine policy at issue

Posted : February 26, 2007

Just as the Pentagon is set to resume mandatory anthrax shots for the

troops, the vaccine's sole manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions, says it is

testing its product as a potential treatment after anthrax exposure.

In fact, the Food and Drug Administration has granted that project " fast

track " status, a designation meant to expedite development and review of new

drugs, and new uses for existing drugs, that are considered particularly

important. The company reportedly is testing a regimen of three shots at

two-week intervals, together with antibiotics, as a post-exposure anthrax

treatment.

That raises an interesting issue: If the tests are successful and the FDA

approves using the vaccine in that way, would the Pentagon be justified in

forcing huge numbers of troops who are not infected to take the shots against

their will?

Untold numbers of troops have suffered adverse reactions to this vaccine, many

of them severe, some incapacitating.

If the drug proves effective as a post-exposure treatment and is approved for

that use, it would seem unconscionable for the Pentagon to risk even one service

member's health unnecessarily.

The vaccine and accompanying antibiotics could be used as the military uses

nerve agent antidote, dispensing it to troops in high-threat regions with

instructions to use it in the event of an attack.

By press time, the Pentagon had not responded to a request for comment on an

issue that is, admittedly, still hypothetical.

But if the FDA certifies the anthrax vaccine as an effective post-exposure

treatment, leaders in Congress should be locked and loaded to ask Defense

Secretary Gates and his top health official, Winkenwerder Jr.,

pointed questions about the need to continue forcing huge numbers of healthy

troops to roll up their sleeves and roll the dice on this vaccine.

Randi J. Airola, © 517-819-5926

http://military-biodefensevaccines.org

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