Anthrax Sidebar 5-25-98
By Rod Hafemeister
Belleville News-Democrat
Researchers have described the anthrax vaccine the Pentagon intends
to give millions of troops as "1950s technology unimpeded by medical
progress." Critics have called it a "disgusting mix" and a "soup"
because the manufacturing process leaves often unknown compounds
in the vaccine. It is made by growing a weakened strain of anthrax
bacteria, killing the bacteria and filtering out a protein called
protective antigen, or P.A. Researchers have found that P.A. causes
the body to develop a resistance to the lethal toxins produced
by anthrax.
One criticism is that there is a wide variation from batch to
batch in the amount of P.A., and that no standard exists for the
amount of P.A. needed to produce immunity.
Researchers don't even know if the current 18-month series of
six shots is necessary - it is based on a single study done in
the 1950s.
Chuck Dacey, a spokesman for the Army Research and Material Command
at Fort Detrick in Maryland, said there is an ongoing clinical
trial to determine whether fewer doses can be used.
Pentagon officials have repeatedly expressed full confidence in
the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine.
But for more than a decade, they also have been funding a series
of attempts to develop a better vaccine.
Last year, a highly purified vaccine was developed at Fort Detrick
that shows promise but is several years away from production.
"The next generation vaccine is still very much in research and
development," Dacey said.
(c) 1998 Belleville News-Democrat