http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/12/18/anthrax/index.html
Postal, Capitol Hill workers offered vaccine
December 20, 2001 Posted: 9:10
AM EST (1410 GMT)
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The federal government is offering an anthrax vaccine
to thousands of postal employees and Capitol Hill workers exposed to the potentially
deadly bacteria, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday.
The workers also will have the option of
continuing an extended course of antibiotics.
It marks the first time that the vaccine has been
offered to a large civilian population, and its use would essentially amount to
a clinical study. Individuals who opt to receive the vaccine would have to sign
an informed-consent form, a move that would essentially relieve the manufacture
of any liability.
While the government was making the offer, it
pointedly was not making a recommendation.
"The decision to use this vaccine is at the
discretion of the individual, in consultation with his or her physician,"
the department said in a press release.
The offers come as the 60-day antibiotic regimen
originally prescribed for individuals exposed to anthrax spores comes to an
end. Some animal studies found that live anthrax spores "may continue to
reside in the longs" beyond 60 days, HHS said, although these studies also
found that none of the animals developed the disease.
HHS said it was making the offers because
"some individuals may wish to take extra precautions, especially those
whose exposure may have been especially high."
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Two anthrax-tainted
letters were sent to Capitol Hill, one to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle
and another to Sen. Patrick Leahy, although the latter was intercepted before
it reached Leahy's office. Other anthrax-laced letters were sent to NBC News
and the New York Post.
Eighteen anthrax infections -- including five
fatal cases -- have been confirmed since the letters began turning up in the
mail in early October.
Federal health officials said it was impossible to
know how many people would take the government up on the vaccine offer. Roughly
10,000 people have been prescribed antibiotics for possible exposure to anthrax
and health officials said a fraction of that group could be expected to ask for
the vaccine.
Dr. D.A. Henderson, the government's top
bioterrorism adviser, said less than 3,000 people within that group were
probably exposed to high levels of anthrax spores.
Most of those who were prescribed antibiotics are
Capitol Hill workers who were in the vicinity when an athrax-laced letter was
opened in Daschle's office. Postal workers who processed that letter and three
others were also among those given antibiotics.
Dr. John Eisold, the capitol physician, said some
75 Capitol Hill staffers and police officers will be offered the vaccine. The
vaccine is given in three shots, one every two weeks, Eisold said.
Federal health officials conceded that they have
little information to know whether using the vaccine in this fashion -- after
exposure -- will be effective. The military and scientists have used the
vaccine, but before exposure.
The chief side effect, according to the officials,
is redness and swelling at the injection site.
Officials said the vaccine would be available to
Capitol Hill workers as soon as Wednesday. The vaccine is also available
immediately for postal workers, but they said that the U.S. Postal Service has
said it wants to wait a week to educate employees about their options.
Those who choose the vaccine will also be given an
additional 40-day treatment of antibiotics.
The other two options are to only take the 40-day
supply of antibiotics or simply finish the current 60-day regimen and monitor
for illness.
Daschle said he welcomed the government's offer.
"I support that decision," Daschle said.
"Many of my staff are directly affected and I think it is a wise course of
action simply because of the unknowns, because of the uncertainty."
But Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tennessee, a physician who
has taken an active role in the treatment for anthrax on Capitol Hill, is
skeptical of the vaccine as a widespread treatment.
"The vaccine is a dated vaccine, it's an old
vaccine. There are very real and potentially serious side effects from the
vaccine and anyone who elects to receive the vaccine needs to be made aware of
that," said Frist.
"I do not recommend widespread inoculation
for people with the vaccine in the Hart Building," he said. "There
are too many side effects and if there is limited chance of exposure the side
effects would far outweigh any potential advantage."
For people who have had direct exposure, it is
"reasonable to consider" the vaccine, Frist said.
ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
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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.