Anthrax vaccine

From ArticleWorld

Anthrax vaccine is an antigen-based preparation made form a cultured toxigenic, nonencapsulated strain of anthrax that is then inactivated and used to form a vaccine. This vaccine has become important of late in that anthrax is considered to be a disease likely to be used in bioterrorism.

History

The only FDA-licensed anthrax vaccine for humans in the U.S. is called BioThrax® and is made by the BioPort Corporation. While not used often in the general population, it is purchased by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The anthrax vaccine was first licensed in 1970. In 1997, the government initiated the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program that required vaccination of all U.S. service personnel. Unfortunately, some serious side affects appeared to be related to using the vaccine and a federal injunction against its use was put in place in 2004.

In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reissued the license for the use of anthrax vaccine, finding it to be safe and effective for the prevention of anthrax. Its use in the armed services is optional; however, approximately half of all servicepersons are choosing to be immunized. In 2005, a large amount of vaccine was purchased by the U.S. Government for the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile in preparation for the possibility of anthrax being used as a weapon of bioterrorism.

Vaccination schedule

The current vaccine is not particularly effective. As a result, multiple injections and boosters are required to maintain immunity. Subcutaneous injections at zero, two and for weeks are given first. This is followed by vaccinations at six months, twelve months and eighteen months. After the primary series of six injections, yearly boosters are required.

Controversy

During the period of 1990 to 2000, a total of almost 2 million doses of anthrax vaccine were given in the U.S. A total of 1,544 adverse events were reported, some of which were considered to be life-threatening or resulted in death. In spite of those findings, the National Academy of Sciences concluded that there was nothing about anthrax vaccinations that made them any more dangerous than other vaccinations. The Department of Defense, however, never revealed that more than 20,000 troops were hospitalized after receiving the vaccine. The Pentagon defended itself by stating that the hospitalizations were not necessarily causally related to the vaccine.