[declassified 21 Dec 1995] 01/07/91 10:31 ~301 663 2~82 SUBJECT: Proposed Statement Regarding Vaccine Produc~ion at NCI/FCRDC The U.S. Anny Medical Research and development Command (USAMRdC) is In the process of contracting with the National Cancer Insntute's Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center (FCRDC) at Fort Detick, Md for production of vaccines. The Departrnent of Defense is accelerating producbon of vaccines in order to inoculate large numbers of military personnel partcipatng in Operaton Desert Shield. Iraq has manufactured and use~ chemical weapons, and is considered to be technically capable of producing biological weapons. Biological munitons have been manufac~ured by several nations in the past. An international treaty, signed by both the U. S. and Iraq, prohibit the development, stockpiling or use of biological weapons. Speci~lc details about potential biological and chemical threats cannot be revealed due to operational security reasons. The U.S. Army is the Defense Departmen~s execu~ve agent for protecting service men and women from bo~h chemical and biological warfare threats. Vaccines are one of many defensive measures in place Other defenses include the protective su;t and mask, detection and diagnostic capabil~ies, anbbiobc dn~s, medicaJ ~eatment teams wi~h special training in treatment of chemical and biological casualtes, and individual and unit training in chemical and biological defense for all personnel deployed. The USAMRDC is the Army's lead agency ~or medical defense against bioiogical ~Ivarfare. The U. S. Army Medical Research Ins~hlte of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick is the lead labor~tory. The vaccine which will be produced by FCRDC has been used for many y~rs to protect laboratory workers who conduct medical research on Improved vaccines. A building at FCRDC is equipped with producton-size fermenters which have been used in anti cancer dru~ development. Minor modific_abons to the building will be made in order to establish the appropnate level of saf~ty for producing the vaccine. The vaccine is produced at Biosafety Level threP (BL-3). Access to the production area is limited, laboratory personnel wear protective clothing similar to surgical scrubsuits, and work is perForrned under hoods which control air~low out of the laboratory through highly efficient fllters. All wastes, clothingT materials and equlpment are sterilized before leaving the labora~ory. The vaccine is produced from weakened, non~a~ogenic microorgan;sms. As cells grow in fermenters, they secrete prote~tive an~gen--which stimulates the immune reaction but cannot cause disPase--into the surrounding growth media. The cells are filtered out, leaving a solution containing protec~ve anbgen whiCh serves as the vaccine. The protective antigen is adsorbed cnto aluminum hydroxide gel, which c~ncentrates and immobi~iz~s i~ Samples from each batch of vaccine are tested for potency before the batch is packaged. VaGcine produced at FCRDC will be turned over to the Army for dis'aibution.First Page |Prev Page |Next Page |Src Image
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