But he describes himself as "just a layer of expertise in the hierarchy," noting that Dover Air Force Base, as dictated by the Pentagon, is counting on "points of contact" lower in the pecking order as educators of first resort. Officers and airmen at all levels have been trained to answer questions about the vaccination program, which was stepped up in recent weeks after dwindling vaccine supplies limited it to special-missions participants for about 15 months.

"We've put much more education in the program," Edwards, commander of the 436th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron, said of the base's new multigenerational, multidiscipline vaccine education team.

"We feel that people who were perhaps opposed to the vaccine in the past did not have the opportunity for all the education they could have used. You need information from multiple sources."

The Pentagon blames a flood of misinformation for undermining confidence in the anthrax vaccine. More than 500 servicemen and women have refused to take it since the vaccination program began in 1998, including two C-5 Galaxy pilots at DAFB who were booted out of the Air Force after questioning the safety of the vaccine.

More than 520,000 people - including just under 2,000 at DAFB, where 116 complaints of ill effects from the vaccine were reported - have taken at least one shot in the 18-month, six-shot series. Last month, the government retained two companies to test a new experimental vaccine that would be administered in three shots.

Maj. Jon Anderson, chief DAFB spokesman, said that under the new educational thrust the goal is to "answer the questions at the lowest level possible." The recognition is that airmen who might not be inclined to take their concerns to top brass might approach a fellow worker who's been trained to respond to questions about the vaccination program.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper directed each Air Force installation to develop vaccine expertise among commanders, deployment officers, public affairs representatives and legal officers.

"If you have a concern, make it known," Anderson said. "There's no question that's a dumb one. Go ahead and ask it."

Edwards, a native of Flagstaff, Ariz., with 11 1/2 years of Air Force service, arrived in Dover about three months ago after completing occupational medical training at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. A key training officer, he says all Pentagon directives have been met in implementing the revamped vaccine program, which, in addition to special-missions personnel, also now covers troops likely to spend 15 days or more in unspecified "high-threat areas."

"We have done all the training and we are in compliance," he said. "But I'm never satisfied that we've done enough training. I'd like to go out there and talk to every individual if I could."

Reach James Merriweather at 678-4273 or delawareonline.com.