Buyer squares-off with Bates on anthrax debate

By GEORGE STOYA

Kokomo Tribune

Friday, July 14, 2000

Congressman Steve Buyer, R-5th, and former Air Force Major Sonnie Bates debated the merits and risks of the U.S. military's standing order that all 2.7 million members of the armed forces submit to a series of six vaccination shots as a preventive measure against anthrax.

When used as a weapon, anthrax is an airborne bacteria that attacks the respiratory system and destroys the lungs of those infected with it. Under the Pentagon's current inoculation procedures, military personnel are given a series of six vaccinations over a period of 18 months.

Citing flaws in the manufacturing protocols used to develop an even stronger vaccination strain, Bates, along with about 300 other military personnel, have refused to take the vaccine. Last March, Bates was forced to resign from the Air Force after nearly 14 yrs. of service.

On television Wednesday as part of ABC's Nightline program, Buyer stressed that while the anthrax vaccine may not be perfect, it was currently the only the preventive measure available against the germ warfare tactic. The vaccine is distributed as part of the Pentagon's Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program.

"Because there is no early warning system should anthrax be weaponized, we have no other choice but being vaccinated," he said.

Buyer also argued that according to test results supplied as part of congressional studies concerned with the safety of soldiers inoculated with the vaccine, there was no "pattern systemic adverse effects" from the vaccine.

Bates countered that the manufacturing protocols used by BioPort, Inc., have yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, he argues, the FDA has only been monitoring since 1993. Bates, however, did concede that he'd submit to the vaccine if he were thrown into a wartime situation and the risk of exposure to anthrax was present.

As chairman of the military personnel subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Buyer has resisted placing any legislative moratorium on the use of the vaccine, but agrees the issue needs further study. His opponent in this year's congressional race, Greg Goodnight, has joined Bates fight to declare the vaccine unsound. Currently, two House Resolutions, No. 2543 and 2548, have been proposed which are aimed at suspending the vaccine pending further study of side-effects.

Buyer is a Army Reserve Captain who served for five months in Iraq and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War.

"printer-friendly" version: