Anthrax vaccine weighed

But think tank won't offer it to employees

By Jim Erickson, News Science Writer

Rutt Bridges, founding director of the Denver-based Bighorn Center for Public Policy, recently looked at offering his staff an unusual employee benefit: anthrax vaccinations.

The Sept. 11 attacks raised fears of a biological attack unleashing anthrax bacteria or some other pathogenic agent.

Anthrax is a cattle disease that sometimes afflicts humans. It is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis.

"We did try to look into the issue of ... whether or not vaccinations were appropriate as a protection for staff members," Bridges said Friday.

"One of our concerns is that the next terrorist attack may be nothing like the last one.

"I think if they were clever, they would not just try to repeat what they did before, but demonstrate our vulnerability in another area," he said. "That's our fear."

Bridges found that anthrax immunization requires a series of six shots over 18 months, followed by an annual booster shot. He didn't pursue the idea further, he said.

"We thought it would be a good employee benefit to offer," Bridges said. "But six doses of vaccine given over 18 months, followed by yearly boosters. I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to sign up for that."

The Bighorn Center for Public Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan think tank. It has a staff of 10.

October 6, 2001