CDC Gets Pentagon's Anthrax Vaccine (washingtonpost.com)

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CDC Gets Pentagon's Anthrax Vaccine

Officials to Use Medicine to Treat Those at Risk of Infection

By Ceci Connolly

Washington Post Staff Writer

Thursday, December 13, 2001; Page A10

Federal health officials have acquired 220,000 doses of anthrax

vaccine from the Pentagon and preliminary approval from the Food and Drug

Administration to use the vaccine as an experimental treatment if

antibiotics fail.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received

permission to use the controversial vaccine in tightly controlled

experiments to either inoculate high-risk workers or treat individuals who

were recently exposed to the deadly bacteria, Bradley Perkins, a top anthrax

researcher at the CDC, said yesterday.

The plan, which is still under review, signals continued concern

among public health authorities that anthrax remains a very real threat. In

addition to the possibility of future attacks, officials are worried about

the hundreds of people exposed to anthrax bacteria in last fall's

bioterrorist incidents who failed to complete a 60-day prescription to

prevent the illness.

Although there is little solid evidence, researchers estimate anthrax

spores can survive in the body for 60 days. That means that people who

discontinue antibiotics prematurely could later develop the disease, and may

not respond to another round of the drugs.

In addition to protecting against initial infection with the

bacteria, officials suspect that the vaccine may work in treating anthrax

victims in cases where an antibiotic is halted early or fails to work

initially. " If we have any evidence of failure, " such as a new case of

anthrax disease, " the vaccine is available as a contingency, " Perkins said.

Behind the scenes, Bush administration officials are involved in

feverish negotiations over who should be vaccinated immediately. Calls to

the Department of Health and Human Services were not returned yesterday.

Earlier this fall, at the height of the anthrax attacks, the CDC said

it intended to inoculate about 1,000 laboratory workers and field

investigators who are most likely to come into contact with anthrax

bacteria. Others groups, such as the U.S. Postal Service and emergency

rescue workers, expressed a desire for similar protection.

Depending on how the vaccine is used -- as a preventive measure or

for post-exposure treatment -- health officials could inoculate 36,000 to

73,000 people, Perkins said. At least 32,000 people were initially given

anti-anthrax medication. Anecdotal reports from postal workers in particular

suggest 25 percent to 75 percent of the patients instructed to take a full

course of medicine have chosen not to, often because of the unpleasant side

effects.

" One of our biggest concerns is people who didn't take the full

course, " CDC Director Koplan said. " They really need to take all of

those antibiotics that were available to them, because that's what kills

those lingering spores when they turn into bacteria. "

Although there has not been a new anthrax case since the mysterious

death of Ottilie Lundgren in Connecticut on Nov. 21, the nation's public

health leaders are aggressively pursuing potential new weapons against the

disease.

Private and government researchers are studying possible antidotes

and the behavior of the anthrax used in the attacks. But the vaccine is the

most promising short-term hope.

Perkins said the CDC " worked closely with FDA in developing " the

protocols for testing new uses of the anthrax vaccine, which is made by

BioPort Corp. Anyone given the vaccine must provide informed consent and

agree to thorough follow-up, he explained. The purpose is to both monitor

the vaccine's safety and collect data.

Currently, the Department of Defense controls the nation's vaccine

stockpile. In 1998 and 1999, about 400,000 military personnel were

vaccinated against anthrax. But many soldiers, complaining of unpleasant

side effects, have balked at taking the six shots over 18 months, and safety

problems at BioPort's plant in Michigan have drastically slowed the

vaccination program.

BioPort hopes to have its refurbished plant inspected by the FDA this

month, which could mean the release of as many as 5 million doses of

quarantined vaccine.

Meanwhile, the House yesterday approved bipartisan legislation by an

overwhelming margin that authorized billions of dollars to guard against a

future bioterrorist act.

The bill, which passed 418 to 2, would give $1 billion to HHS to

bolster the nation's stockpile of antidotes and vaccines; another $1 billion

in grants to state and local governments along with public and private

health facilities for preparedness programs; $450 million for CDC; $100

million for FDA and $100 million to protect the nation's drinking water

supply.

Staff writer t Eilperin contributed to this report.

© 2001 The Washington Post Company

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