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Anthrax is a
highly lethal biological weapon.
For more information on the Anthrax
Vaccine Immunization Program, Call toll free 1-877-GET-VACC (1-877-438-8222) http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/
WHAT IS THE
THREAT?
Biological weapons are maintained by several countries around the world, including some of our potential adversaries. Use of these weapons could cause widespread illness among unprotected U.S. forces. Anthrax is the biological weapon most likely to be encountered because it is:
WHAT IS
ANTHRAX?
Anthrax is a disease normally associated with plant-eating animals (sheep, goats, cattle, and swine). It is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Once common where livestock were raised, it is now controlled through animal vaccination programs. Anthrax still occurs in countries where animals are not vaccinated, mainly in Africa and Asia. It occurs infrequently in many countries, including the United States.
Human infection with anthrax usually results from direct contact with infected animals, or animal products such as wool, meat or hides. However, when anthrax is used as a biological weapon, people become infected by breathing anthrax that is released into the air. Inhalational anthrax is the disease that results from breathing in anthrax spores. Under expected battlefield conditions, experts believe you can inhale enough anthrax spores to kill you in one deep breath. Symptoms of inhalational anthrax can begin as early as 24 hours after breathing the spores. Initial symptoms include fever, cough, and weakness. These ultimately progress to breathing problems, shock, and death.
WHY
VACCINATE?
Vaccines prevent illness by stimulating the body's natural disease-fighting abilities. They are among the most powerful tools developed by modern medicine to keep people healthy. Vaccines are used routinely in the United States to protect against diseases like tetanus, mumps, measles, whooping cough, and polio. Vaccines also help protect against biological weapons like anthrax.
As part of Force Health Protection, Department of Defense (DoD) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) personnel are given additional vaccines to provide maximum protection against naturally occurring diseases encountered when deploying overseas, such as typhoid, hepatitis A, and yellow fever. The DoD has established a vaccination program to protect DoD and USCG personnel against anthrax.
WHAT IS THE ANTHRAX
VACCINE?
Anthrax vaccine is a sterile product made from a strain (type) of the anthrax organism that does not cause disease. The vaccine contains no living or dead anthrax organisms. Vaccination produces antibodies that neutralize the disease-causing protein common to every strain of anthrax. The anthrax vaccine is not new. Human anthrax vaccines were developed in England and the U.S. in the 1950s and early 1960s. The anthrax vaccine you will receive was licensed in 1970 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is manufactured by BioPort Corporation (Lansing, Michigan) under License No. 1290, formerly the Michigan Biologic Products Institute under License No. 99.
It has been safely and routinely
administered in the United States to at--risk veterinarians, laboratory workers,
and livestock handlers since 1970.
COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS
Q: Why are we getting this
vaccine?
A: Anthrax is a lethal biological weapon we
may encounter. Vaccination before exposure is critical to protect us against
this weapon.
Q: Is the vaccine all I need to
protect against inhalational anthrax?
A: Vaccination is a vital component of Force
Health Protection. Being fully vaccinated greatly increases your chances of
surviving an exposure to anthrax. Force Health Protection is further enhanced
through early warning and detection systems, health surveillance, and the proper
wear of the protective mask and over-garments. Antibiotics play a limited role,
but vaccination is essential.
Q: Is this an experimental
vaccine?
A: No. The anthrax vaccine has been
FDA-licensed since 1970.
Q: Is this vaccine
safe?
A: Yes. This vaccine has been safely
administered in the U.S. since 1970. However, as with other vaccines, minor
reactions are common. Serious adverse events occur rarely after any
vaccination.
Q: What are the side
effects?
A: Like all vaccines, anthrax vaccine may
cause soreness, redness, itching, and swelling at the injection site. Up to 30%
of men and 60% of women report mild local reactions, but these reactions usually
last only a few days. For both genders, between 1% and 5% report reactions of 1
to 5 inches in diameter. Larger reactions occur about once per hundred vaccines
or less. A lump at the site occurs commonly, usually lasting for a few weeks,
before going away on its own, if left alone.
Beyond the injection site, from 5% to 35% will notice muscle aches, joint aches, headaches, malaise, rashes, chills, low-grade fever, nausea, or related symptoms. These symptoms usually go away in less than a week.
Any vaccine can cause serious
reactions, such as those requiring hospitalization. For anthrax vaccine, they
happen less than once per 200,000 doses. Severe allergic reactions occur less
than once per 100,000 doses.
Discuss with a health-care provider whether
antihistamines or pain relievers before or after vaccination can help reduce
bothersome symptoms. Report adverse events after vaccination to a health-care
provider promptly, before receiving additional vaccinations.
Q: What about long-term side
effects?
A: At Fort Detrick, MD, 1,500 laboratory workers have been
followed up to 10 to 20 years or more after anthrax vaccination. None developed
unexplained symptoms due to repeated doses of this or other vaccines they
received. From this and other monitoring, no patterns of delayed side effects to
anthrax vaccine have been found. Monitoring continues.
Q: What if I am pregnant or
breast-feeding?
A:
Anthrax vaccine, like other non-living vaccines, is not expected to cause fetal
harm. No evidence exists to indicate adverse reproductive effects occur after
vaccination, including infertility. Prudent medical practice is to defer
vaccination during pregnancy unless clearly needed. Therefore, pregnant women
should not receive the anthrax vaccine, unless anthrax exposure occurs or is
imminent. Women who believe that they may be pregnant should inform their
health-care provider before vaccination. Once pregnancy is confirmed, anthrax
vaccinations will be deferred until the woman is no longer pregnant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that vaccines are safe for breast-feeding women, causing no harm to children who breast-feed.
Q: What if I'm planning on
having children?
A: The vaccine contains no infectious substance.
Therefore, there is no reason to delay child bearing. This applies to both men
and women who are vaccinated.
Q: Anthrax vaccine was
administered to personnel deployed in the Persian Gulf War. Has the anthrax
vaccine been linked to illnesses among Gulf War veterans?
A: No. Several
renowned scientific groups, including the National Academy of Sciences, have
addressed this issue and found no evidence to link the FDA-licensed anthrax
vaccine with illnesses among Gulf War veterans.
Q: What other medical conditions
should I inform the medical staff about?
A: If you have an active
illness, a chronic illness under medical treatment, or take medication that
suppresses the immune system, inform the medical staff before taking any
vaccine.
Q: If I feel I'm having a health
problem related to vaccination, what should I do?
A: If an adverse event
occurs, seek medical care as appropriate. At a minimum, any adverse event that
results in 24 hours or more time lost from duty, or hospitalization, must be
reported by your health-care provider using the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting
System (VAERS). Anyone may report a vaccine-associated adverse event of any
severity through VAERS. For blank forms, go to: www.anthrax.osd.mil/vaers/vaers.htm
or contact VAERS by calling 1-800-822-7967. Please see a health-care provider
for help with filling out the form.
Q: I'm a Reservist/Guard member.
If I have an adverse reaction, can I go to a military (DoD or Coast Guard)
hospital or clinic?
A: Adverse events after DoD- or USCG-directed
vaccinations are line-of-duty illnesses. There-fore, a member of the Reserve
Component may seek initial treatment and evaluation at any military treatment
facility after vaccination during a period of duty. The member will be examined
and provided necessary medical care. Once treatment is rendered or the
individual's emergent condition is stabilized, a Line of Duty and/or Notice of
Eligibility status will be determined by the member's unit, as required. No
treatment beyond that justified to stabilize the condition or emergency is
authorized until Service connection is validated. Evaluation does not require
being in a duty status, nor DEERS enrollment. For more information, contact your
unit representative.
Q: How many shots will I have to
take?
A: Six shots, with the first three given 2 weeks apart. The next
three are given at intervals of 5 months, 6 months, and 6 months after the date
of the previous dose. After the sixth dose, booster doses are given every 12
months to maintain immunity. This is the anthrax vaccine schedule licensed by
the FDA and used by the DoD.
Q: What happens if I am late for
a shot?
A: All reasonable steps should be taken to receive each
vaccination on or as close as possible to the approved schedule. Do not get
vaccinated early. If you are late for a vaccination, get it as soon as possible.
There is no increase in side effects from late vaccinations. Getting vaccinated
late does not reduce the protection you ultimately develop. But you may not be
optimally protected during the interval when your shot is overdue.
Q: Am I required to take the
vaccine?
A: Yes. This vaccine, like every other required vaccination, is
necessary to prepare you for deployment. Medical exemptions can be granted, if
medically appropriate.
Call toll free 1-877-GET-VACC Go to http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/
Dr. Sue Bailey
Assistant
Secretary of Defense
for Health Affairs and
The Service Surgeons
General
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