What's more, findings on the vaccination's effectiveness in fighting anthrax may be spotty at best. So says a preliminary study being pursued by the General Accounting Office, a watchdog agency for the federal government. But the vaccine's manufacturer, as well as the Food and Drug Administration and the Defense Department, claim the vaccine remains the best available protection against the growing threat of the deadly disease as a weapon. Gen. Eddie Cain, program manager for the Defense Department's inoculation program, told a House investigative committee today.
Anthrax vaccine is a key element in protecting service members against the lethal threat.
The Pentagon believes more that 10 countries have developed biological warfare capability with anthrax, a highly infectious livestock disease that can be spread to humans, as the most basic component. However, the vaccine now being used has only been tested on guinea pigs and monkeys, according to Kwai-Cheung Chan, who is conducting the GAO study. The vaccine was originally developed in the 1950s and used among mill workers who were exposed to the anthrax spore when in contact with goat hair. In the mid-1960s, the nation's single supplier changed the manufacturing process and ingredients. A study of the original vaccine, done 40 years ago, focused on testing the product's strength against anthrax penetrating the skin of people.