Pentagon cuts back on anthrax vaccine program - Only high-risk troops will get shots until BioPort gets go-ahead

By Tim Martin and A.J. Evenson

Lansing State Journal

Tuesday, July 11, 2000

The U.S. military will immediately curtail its anthrax vaccination program because of a dwindling supply of the drug made by a Lansing company.

The military will use the doses it has left for troops headed to high-risk areas such as the Persian Gulf and Korea, U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen said in a statement Monday.

The supply of vaccine has evaporated as its only maker, Lansing's BioPort Corp., works toward Food and Drug Administration approval of its renovated labs. BioPort can't sell new vaccine - a protection against a deadly biological weapon - without that approval, which is expected by the end of the year.

"Unfortunately, we're beginning to run low on tested and certified doses . . . forcing us to temporarily slow our vaccination efforts," Cohen said.

The Pentagon announced plans in 1997 to vaccinate all 2.4 million U.S. troops against anthrax, shortly before the state-owned lab was sold to a private company in 1998. The military has since relied on a stockpile of the vaccine made while the state of Michigan still owned the lab.

About 20 percent of troops have received at least one dose of the six-dose vaccine.

But with BioPort struggling to win FDA approval for production, there has been no new supply to replenish that reserve.Cohen said the military will not back off its plan to inoculate all troops.

Monday's announcement should not cause any immediate changes at BioPort, but highlights the company's need for FDA approval.

"As soon as a sufficient and safe supply of vaccine is available, we will expand the program," Cohen said.

About 4,500 doses had been administered daily. The Pentagon has about 100,000 doses left, meaning that at the program's previous rate supplies would have expired in about a month. Under the plan announced Monday, the vaccine supply could last the rest of the year.

Cohen could have opted to temporarily suspend the program entirely until new doses were available for distribution. Meanwhile, the military will leave in place alternative protections - such as anthrax detectors and stockpiles of antibiotics - in high-risk areas.

"We applaud Secretary Cohen's decision," said BioPort spokeswoman Kelly Rossman-McKinney. "It's a very wise decision. It ensures those who are most at risk receive high priority for protection."

Anthrax is a naturally occurring - and deadly - bacterium among cattle and sheep. Harnessed as a biological weapon, it could kill humans by destroying their lungs and chest cavities.

The Pentagon estimates that about 10 nations, including Iraq and North Korea, might have anthrax in their arsenals.

The program has been controversial as at least 400 military personnel, mostly in reserve units, have faced disciplinary measures for refusal to take the vaccine because of safety concerns.

The program has been under fire in Congress. Critics question its cost, effectiveness and safety. Several have called for the program to be halted until the program's safety and financial questions are answered.

Congressional armed forces committees in both the House and Senate meet Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the vaccination program.

"There are too many questions about the viability of BioPort as a company, and their ability to produce the drug in a safe and satisfactory manner," said Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C.

The military and FDA maintain that the vaccine used so far is safe and effective.

BioPort - with about 200 employees - has contracts worth at least $45 million with the Pentagon.

The company is under a Department of Defense investigation for how it has spent some of the money, including an $18.7 million cash advance received in August 1999.