Anthrax vaccine

General information

Inactivated anthrax vaccine is mainly used for protection against occupational anthrax exposure. A complete vaccine series consists of three 0.5-ml subcutaneous doses at 2-week intervals, followed by three additional doses 6, 12, and 18 months after the first dose. Mild local reactions occur in 30% of vaccinees, including local erythema and tenderness, which occurs within 24 hours and begins to subside within 48 hours. The reactions tend to increase in severity by the fifth injection. Systemic reactions are rare and usually characterized by malaise and lassitude, chills, and fever [ ].

The authors of an extremely controversial review of anthrax vaccine concluded that the vaccine has not been shown to be safe or effective and accused the US Department of Defense of having withheld reports on vaccine-related adverse events and criticized the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for not properly performing many of its oversight duties [ ].

Drug studies