Like those two airmen, we might balk at being forced to take an anthrax shot. It's called following orders. If you can't, don't sign up. Doubts about the vaccine's safety and necessity, however, deserve a more elaborate response. Concern over safety is entirely reasonable.
Legitimate questions call for investigation and response.
The congressional panel cited 400 reports of adverse reactions since the vaccination program began in 1998. Six cases required hospitalization. That doesn't sound like a deadly epidemic. Many shots, including flu shots, often cause temporary discomfort. The anthrax vaccine is not a new, experimental drug.