Anthrax vaccination required for travel to CENTCOM, Korea

  • Published
  • By Col. Bradley Herremans
  • 341st Medical Group commander
MALMSTROM AFB, Mont. --  Immunization against anthrax is now mandatory for military members and certain essential civilians going to CENTCOM or the Korean peninsula for 15 or more days. It remains voluntary for any active-duty military or civilian employees who have received at least one shot since 1998 and for family members accompanying those mandated to receive vaccination. People will continue their initial series or boosters from where they left off; there is no need to re-start the series. 

The purely voluntary program had been necessary due to legal challenges based on the types of anthrax exposure for which the Food and Drug Administration had shown the vaccine to be effective. It was shown effective for skin and oral contact, but had not been shown effective for contact from breathing in the anthrax spores. Because there just wasn't enough data for the FDA to make a judgment, the vaccine was rated "investigational" for protection against inhaled anthrax virus. 

The military could not force members to accept an investigational vaccine. The FDA has further evaluated the available data, found the vaccine to be safe and effective, and removed the "investigational" status. There is no other product approved by the FDA to prevent anthrax-related illness prior to exposure. 

Respiratory anthrax is highly lethal in non-immunized people. Once symptoms have appeared, it is too late for antibiotics to be much help. As our Airmen's health is our primary concern, the Air Force has adopted a multi-layered approach to Force Protection. This includes preventing our foes from spreading the virus, using MOPP gear, vaccinating Airmen at risk and treating potentially exposed personnel with antibiotics prior to appearance of symptoms. 

Guidance for the mandatory immunization program is contained in the Air Force "Plan for Implementing the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program." This document and other information are available on the internet at http://www. anthrax.mil/AVIP2007. 

This is a Readiness Force Protection program, not a medical program. Commanders are to brief their troops prior to mandatory immunization. The 341st Medical Group's immunization clinic can answer any additional questions or provide more information at 731-4455.