The airman is the second member of the 7th Security Forces Squadron at Dyess to have charges brought against him for refusing the shots. Dyess officials said privacy regulations prevent them from identifying the most recent defendant. On Thursday, a U.S. House Government Affairs subcommittee issued a report charging that the anthrax vaccine is of questionable value and based on limited research. Though it advised the Pentagon to halt its plans to inoculate the nation's fighting forces, lawmakers acknowledged they lacked the votes to do so. Davis said unless the Department of Defense changes its anthrax vaccination policy, charges against the airman will not change.
Anthrax is an infectious bacterial disease that can be used in biological, or germ, warfare.
Defense Secretary William Cohen announced in 1998 that all 2.4 million members of the armed services are required to take the anthrax vaccination, which calls for six injections over 18 months followed by annual boosters. More than 380,000 service members have already received the vaccination, including more than 1,400 Dyess airmen. About 300 military personnel nationwide have refused the shots. Some have been prosecuted for refusing orders to take the vaccination to deploy overseas, including former Dyess Airman Brent Rogers. Rogers said he refused to take the vaccination, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, because he feared for his health.