STATE OF CONNECTICUT

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

ATTORNEY GENERAL

HARTFORD

DECEMBER 27, 1999

William S. Cohen

Secretary of Defense

1000 Defense Pentagon

Washington DC 20301-1000

Re: Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP)

Dear Secretary Cohen:

I have been contacted by members of the Connecticut Air National Guard who raise highly significant issues regarding the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program ("AVIP"). These Guardsmen are concerned that the May 18, 1998 and March 30, 1999 directives calling for immunization of all U.S. Military Personnel against Anthrax have been made too hastily, without proper consideration of potential harm to the health of personnel vaccinated. As a result, the Guardsmen believe important scientific data regarding the safety of AVIP has not been sufficiently studied or considered.

My understanding is that the health and safety of the AVIP is still an issue of substantial controversy in the scientific community, and is currently under investigation by the Congress of the United States. As the Attorney General in Connecticut, I am particularly concerned that the health of Connecticut Guardsman may be endangered, and I am dismayed that the commencement of AVIP appears to have been made without consideration of what entity, in the state or the federal government, would be responsible to the State National Guardsman should any illness or disability occur as the result of the immunization.

The program apparently was undertaken without any regard for the possible liability of the states for the costs associated with Guardsmen who may become ill as a result of the vaccine, an issue of serious concern. Such liability, an extremely troubling prospect, would seem to merit further factual and legal inquiry on the part of our state as well as the federal government. Essentially, I am concerned that the health and safety impact on Connecticut National Guardsmen is simply not reliably known at this point.

Based on the uncertain state of knowledge regarding the Anthrax vaccine, and potential legal and policy considerations, I would request that you suspend the AVIP until there is a full scientific consensus on its safety.

Sincerely,

(Signed)

RICHARD BLUMENTHAL

RB/jb

(Stamped: Dec 28 1999

Attorney General’s Office

Fraud / Whistle Blower Unit)