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Few People Take Anthrax Vaccination

Tuesday January 1, 2002 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) - Fewer than 100 people have opted for the

experimental anthrax vaccine out of thousands eligible, although

federal health officials say more than 700 are taking additional

antibiotics.

Monday's count came as workers finished fumigating a Senate building

to kill trace amounts of anthrax spores still lingering there.

However, continued testing could turn up more anthrax residue in any

of the numerous buildings and post offices contaminated during the

attacks-by-mail, said the nation's top anthrax official.

``I don't think anyone can say there are not odd spores sitting

around somewhere,'' Dr. Koplan, director of the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview. ``I don't think

they pose a health threat to people, but individuals have to make

their own decisions in this as to what's tolerable to them or not.''

Koplan's comments came as CDC figures show few of the thousands

exposed to anthrax in the fall attacks are taking up a government

offer of free but experimental anthrax vaccinations or an additional

40 days of antibiotics. CDC made the offer because animal studies

suggest that in rare cases, anthrax can lurk in the body for more

than 60 days, erupting after people finish their original course of

antibiotics.

Four dozen Capitol Hill workers received the first vaccinations on

Dec. 20. Since then, another 39 people, mostly postal workers, in

Washington, New York, New Jersey and Florida have been vaccinated,

CDC figures showed Monday morning. U.S. Postal Service officials

added another 10 inoculations to that count by afternoon.

Vaccination requires three shots at two-week intervals; antibiotics

must be taken until the last shot.

In addition to vaccine recipients, CDC counted 744 people who opted

for 40 additional days of antibiotics.

People have until Jan. 7 to decide whether to take either extra-

protection measure. Koplan, who helped counsel New Yorkers about the

extra therapy last week, said he expects few more takers.

``It depends on your own sense of risk aversion,'' he said. ``These

are intelligent people who now know a lot about the subject'' and

thus can choose.

The inoculations are experimental because, while the vaccine has been

used safely for decades to prevent infection before anthrax exposure,

there's no proof it works as a post-exposure treatment. It can cause

side effects including injection site soreness and swelling; muscle

and joint aches; rashes; chills; fever; nausea; and rare but serious

allergic reactions. The CDC has not said whether any of those

inoculated have experienced side effects.

The CDC confirmed 18 anthrax cases during the fall attacks-by-mail,

including five deaths. The buildings most contaminated - and still

closed - were the Hart Senate Office Building, where an anthrax-

logged letter was opened, and two postal facilities in Washington and

Trenton, N.J., that processed anthrax-tainted letters.

Workers on Monday finished fumigating the Hart building with a gas

that can kill anthrax, but say it could take at least a week to

determine if the cleanup worked. Test strips containing bacteria more

resistant to chlorine dioxide than anthrax were placed in the

building. If that bacteria is dead, it suggests any remaining anthrax

is, too.

Officials hope to reopen the building, which normally houses offices

of half the Senate's 100 members, in early January. The two closed

post offices won't be cleaned up until Hart is finished, a

spokeswoman said.

Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002