Pentagon to halt use of anthrax vaccine

December 24, 2003|Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon announced yesterday it would stop giving anthrax vaccinations to servicemen and women until a federal judge's order to end the program is clarified.

"We fully intend to comply with all of our legal obligations in this instance," Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, told PBS's "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

The announcement countered earlier statements from top military officers who criticized Monday's ruling from US District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan that the vaccinations were being used inappropriately.

Sullivan said Monday he was convinced by six unidentified plaintiffs in a class-action suit that the vaccine is being "used for an unapproved purpose" -- that is, to protect against exposure to airborne anthrax as well as exposure through the skin.

More than 900,000 servicemen and women have received the shots, among the millions of doses of various vaccines administered annually to protect troops against disease and bioterror threats. Overall, some 500 active-duty service members have refused the vaccine, close to 200 have been court-martialed, and more than 500 pilots and flight crew members have quit, resigned, or transferred from the Air National Guard or Reserves rather than take the vaccine, said Mark S. Zaid, a lawyer for the plaintiffs. However, most of the punishments and discharges occurred several years ago, the military said.

The government has maintained the vaccine is safe and can protect against anthrax inhaled or absorbed through the skin.