The general said the services were looking at the issue of exemptions for separating personnel differently, with recommendations ranging from 90 to 180 days. DoD officials decided to set one standard. Medically speaking, certain individuals shouldn t receive any immunizations, including anthrax. Anthrax is a mandatory vaccination, but we want it to be given just like every other vaccine, West said. If a person has a medical reason not to take the vaccine or to be temporarily exempt from taking it, we want that to happen.
Medical exemptions fall into several categories.
Adverse reaction to a previous anthrax immunization. West said a person who has a suspected severe reaction after a shot would be temporarily exempt until the cause can be definitely determined. If the vaccine is the cause, the individual would be exempt from further doses. There s no history that would cause us to believe the anthrax vaccine would be harmful. However, there haven t been any tests done to prove that, West said.