• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

DATE=5/17/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANTHRAX (L)
NUMBER=2-262484
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  Defense Secretary William Cohen says the U-S 
Military will continue vaccinating troops against the 
deadly anthrax virus --  even though dozens of members 
of Congress are demanding a halt to the controversial 
program.  V-O-A's Jim Randle reports, hundreds of 
troops have refused to take the vaccine because of 
questions about its safety and effectiveness. 
TEXT:  Congressman Jack Metcalf (a Republican from 
Washington State) and nearly three dozen other 
lawmakers have written to the Pentagon asking for an 
immediate halt to the vaccination program.
At least three hundred troops have resigned from the 
military, been thrown out, or face other punishments 
because of their refusal to take than take the 
vaccine.  
Some service members say the vaccine is not designed 
to handle the form of anthrax they are most likely to 
encounter on the battlefield.  Others fear the 
mysterious illness plaguing veterans of the Gulf War 
might be linked to vaccines taken during the 1991 
conflict. 
/// OPT /// The medical facility that manufactures the 
vaccine has had a series of technical problems.  The 
military has been forced to provide financial help to 
the ailing facility and a scientific panel has 
complained about a lack of studies on the vaccine's 
long term effects. /// END OPT ///
But Defense Secretary Cohen says the anthrax vaccine 
has been used for decades and has been approved by 
medical officials.  
To demonstrate their faith in procedure, he and the U-
S Military's top officer rolled up their sleeves and 
took the series of shots needed to administer the 
vaccine.
            ///  COHEN ACT  ///
      The vaccine that is currently being used is 
      safe.  And that is the reason that the Chairman 
      (of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) and myself were 
      the first two in line to receive our six shots.  
      We were not prepared to tell our troops that 
      they had to undergo any kind of vaccination 
      program unless we were willing to do the same.
            /// END ACT ///
Pentagon officials say they have vaccinated hundreds 
of thousands of troops and will continue administering 
inoculations until all two point four million active 
and reserve members of the U-S Military are protected 
against the germ weapon.
Scientists say anthrax is the easiest of all diseases 
to turn into an effective weapon because its dust-like 
spores can be easily spread and inhaled by victims.
These spores can be packed into artillery shells or 
sprayed from airplanes.  Experts say ten nations -- 
including Iraq and North Korea -- may have such germ 
warfare programs. (Signed). 
NEB/JR/KBK
17-May-2000 14:48 PM EDT (17-May-2000 1848 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.