ASD(HA) 's reply to the 27 July LA Times Editorial

[Guest guest]

Anthrax Vaccine Program

Your July 27 editorial regarding the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program fails

to recognize the steps the Department of Defense has taken to ensure the health

of military personnel. Anthrax presents a clear and present danger to U.S.

service personnel. The best means of prevention is the administration of

the anthrax vaccine, which was licensed and approved by the Food and Drug

Administration and used for almost 30 years.

We require our providers to report all cases in which there is loss of

duty for more than 24 hours or hospitalization for any reaction, and we

encourage them to report clinically relevant adverse reactions. Patients

themselves may report information.

The department also established a process to have all reported reactions

reviewed by experts from the Department of Health and Human Services Vaccine

Injury Compensation Program. To date, the experts have found no trend

indicating the anthrax vaccine is the cause of disease. After over 1 million

doses to over 300,000 personnel, we find the vaccine to be as safe as the

common vaccines used in America today.

The department has been candid in sharing information concerning the

vaccine's safety and efficacy. Information is available through educational

materials, a Web site (http://www.anthrax.osd.mil) and personal counseling.

We encourage patients to come forward with any medical problems.

SUE BAILEY

Assistant Secretary of Defense

for Health Affairs, Washington