Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccination (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Nov. 7, 2000 |
| Report Number |
RL30748 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Steve Bowman, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
The Department of Defense (DOD) intends to immunize 1.4 million active duty and 900,000
Selected
Reserve personnel against anthrax. The vaccine, approved by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), has been in use since 1970. About 455,000 personnel have started the vaccination series, and,
according to DOD, at least 442 have refused the vaccine. DOD deems the immunization to be
mandatory, and active duty personnel who have refused have been subject to administrative discharge
or court martial for failure to obey a lawful order. Some Reserve and National Guard personnel have
resigned rather than take the vaccine. Legislation was introduced in the 106th Congress to delay the
program pending further research ( H.R. 2543 , H.R. 2548 ), however these
bill have not been reported from committee. Congress also addressed the anthrax vaccination
program in the DOD FY2001 Authorization Act ( P.L. 106-398 , Sec. 217, 218, 751), establishing a
broad range of reporting requirements and monitoring efforts.
Questions have been raised about the vaccine's efficacy against all forms of anthrax, possible
long-term adverse effects, the reliability of the adverse reaction reporting system, the reliability of the
manufacturer, and DOD's contractual arrangements with the manufacturer. The House Government
Reform Committee and its Subcommittee on National Security, Veteran's Affairs, and International
Relations; the House Armed Service's Military Personnel Subcommittee; and the Senate Armed
Services Committee have held hearings, with representatives from DOD, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and the General Accounting Office (GAO). Members of the military who
believe their anthrax vaccination caused a variety of medical ailments, and members who refused the
vaccination and received disciplinary action or chose to leave the service also testified. The House
Committee on Government Reform has also issued a report prepared by the majority staff
summarizing its conclusions regarding the program. (1) . The Department of
Defense and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration continue to maintain that the vaccine is safe and the most effective medical
protection currently available against anthrax, and that adverse reactions to the vaccine remain at a
lower rate than other widely-administered vaccines.
This report will not be updated, unless there are significant new developments.
1. Â The Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccine
Immunization program -- Unproven Force Protection , House
Committee on Government Reform. February 17, 2000.
http://www.house.gov/reform/
