Anthrax Vaccine Program

Your July 27 editorial regarding the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program fails to recognize the steps the Department of Defense has taken to ensure the health of military personnel. Anthrax presents a clear and present danger to U.S. service personnel. The best means of prevention is the administration of the anthrax vaccine, which was licensed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration and used for almost 30 years.

We require our providers to report all cases in which there is loss of duty for more than 24 hours or hospitalization for any reaction, and we encourage them to report clinically relevant adverse reactions. Patients themselves may report information.

The department also established a process to have all reported reactions reviewed by experts from the Department of Health and Human Services Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. To date, the experts have found no trend indicating the anthrax vaccine is the cause of disease. After over 1 million doses to over 300,000 personnel, we find the vaccine to be as safe as the common vaccines used in America today.

The department has been candid in sharing information concerning the vaccine’s safety and efficacy. Information is available through educational materials, a Web site (https://www.anthrax.osd.mil) and personal counseling. We encourage patients to come forward with any medical problems.

SUE BAILEY

Assistant Secretary of Defense

for Health Affairs, Washington