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Sunday December 23 3:14 PM ET

CDC Deploys Teams to Help Give Anthrax Vaccine

By Paul Simao

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (news - web sites) said it was deploying five teams of scientists and staff to help administer an anthrax vaccine and extra antibiotics to people exposed to the deadly bacterium.

The CDC, which has led the medical investigation into an anthrax outbreak linked to contaminated mail sent after the Sept. 11 attacks, said on Friday the teams would be sent, as needed, to Florida, New York City, New Jersey, Washington and Connecticut.

Anthrax infections were confirmed in each of these places during an outbreak that began in October. Five people have died and another 13 have been infected with the disease during the outbreak.

``These teams will be working directly with a medical contractor to administer vaccine and antibiotics to those who choose to receive it,'' the Atlanta-based CDC said.

Earlier this week, the U.S. government announced it would offer the vaccinations and extra antibiotics as an added precaution to prevent lingering anthrax spores from making people who were exposed sick after they completed a recommended 60-day regimen of antibiotics.

People who may have been exposed to anthrax may choose whether to take the extra drugs.

Health experts are concerned that some spores may survive for longer than 60 days in the lungs of people who inhaled the highest doses. They hope the vaccine will boost immunity to fight the microscopic but potentially fatal spores.

About 10,000 people, including legions of congressional employees and postal workers, could be eligible to receive the vaccine. As of Thursday morning, only slightly more than four dozen had lined up to have the shots.

The anthrax vaccine consists of three doses administered over a four-week period. CDC officials noted, however, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) had not yet approved the vaccine for such use, adding that there were possible risks.

The CDC said its teams would be responsible for making sure the vaccine was stored and administered properly, consent forms were signed by those receiving the shots and any side-effects were monitored.

Health officials are also offering an additional 40-day course of antibiotics to people who were exposed to anthrax, to be taken either separately or in conjunction with the vaccine.

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Earlier Stories
CDC Deploys Teams to Help Give Anthrax Vaccine, Drugs (December 21)

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.