Former airman questions use of anthrax vaccine

by Raygan Swan

Kokomo (Indiana) Tribune

July 4, 2000

In a press conference Monday afternoon, former Air Force Maj. Sonnie G. Bates, who is suggesting a moratorium on the anthrax vaccine, said continuing to inoculate U.S. Armed Forces with the vaccine is "like walking through a mine field."

In March, Bates was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force after refusing to take the vaccination. "I lost my job because I did not want to accept a dangerous drug in my body," he said.

Bates and Congressional District Candidate Greg Goodnight are seeking support for H.R. 2548, a proposed congressional bill to halt all inoculations until further research is done.

Two years ago Defense Secretary William Cohen ordered all 2.4 million active-duty and reserve uniformed personnel to begin inoculations to protect them against America's enemies who might use anthrax on the next battlefield. But due to a limited supply, the Pentagon has restricted the shots to personnel assigned to areas where troops might face the highest threat of anthrax.

The anthrax chemical is one of the top biological warfare threats to the United States.

Bates' opposition to the Pentagon's vaccination program has also brought him into confrontation with 5th Dist. Rep. Steve Buyer's (R-Ind.) position as chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. According to Bates, more testing and investigation on the vaccine should be conducted to prevent the risk of adverse health effects.

Buyer is convinced the threat of biological warfare using anthrax weaponry is real, and the Department of Defense is obligated to take all necessary actions to protect military personnel against possible contamination.

"Not allowing American troops to be vaccinated is like turning your back on them," Buyer said. "They are better protected with a safe and effective anthrax vaccine than they would be without it."

According to reports from the Department of Defense, the vaccine may cause soreness, redness, itching, swelling and lumps at the injection site. About 30 percent of men and 60 percent of women report these local reactions, but they usually last only a brief period of time.

Approximately 1.8 million anthrax vaccinations have been administered with only six people reporting allergic reactions at the injection site, which required hospitalization. There are no long-term side effects, according to the Department of Defense.

Bates said he would agree to take the vaccination if more testing could be done.

"I was ready to take the vaccination until I saw all of the men around me falling ill," he said. "How are we supposed to win wars if our troops are all sick?"

Bates said during peacetime troops should be healthy and not on medical discharge.

Buyer said, "At the time of peace is when you are preparing forces for combat, we owe it to them to provide them with the best protection."

The Federal Drug Administration approved the vaccination is the 1970s. Since then it has been used by at-risk veterinarians, laboratory workers and livestock handlers is the United States.

The Department of Defense and Bioport (producers of the vaccine) are seeking further approval from the FDA regarding new production of the vaccine.

The last lots of the vaccine subjected to the potency tests have not received FDA approval -- not because of adverse health effects but because doubts have been raised as to the effectiveness for actually protecting troops against anthrax attacks.

A subcommittee on military personnel is holding a hearing July 13, examining the current status and future plans for seeking FDA approval of the Bioport production facility in the future.