| < Go Back |
| |
For Immediate Release
October 16, 2006 |
| |
Shays Speaks Out Against
Defense Department Plans to Resume Anthrax Vaccinations
Bridgeport, CT – Reacting to an announcement by the
Defense Department (DoD) that it would resume the mandatory
Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP), Congressman Christopher
Shays (R-CT) blasted the DoD's decision.
Shays is the Chairman of the National Security, Emerging
Threats and International Relations Subcommittee, which has
conducted broad oversight on troop health issues, including
the risks posed by the AVIP program. He and Congressman Ed
Towns (D-NY) introduced a bill last year to give military
personnel the right to chose whether or not to be vaccinated
against anthrax and smallpox and provide amnesty to those
who were punished for refusing the previous requirement to
be immunized.
"The Defense Department is wasting time and effort against
the very speculative threat of anthrax in Korea and Iraq,"
said Shays. "DoD likes to call the vaccine 'medical body
armor' but instead should focus on keeping US troops supplied
with the ceramic body armor they need."
"I am concerned DoD seems willing to play fast and loose
with the FDA-required dosing schedule, claiming that those
who rotate out of the alleged risk areas can finish the immunization
course voluntarily. Because the shot regimen takes 18 months
and most deployments are a year or less, it is possible no
one in the force will ever be completely immunized, but still
be put at risk."
"We need a modern vaccine against anthrax," continued
Shays. "One that works on civilians, and young and old
servicemembers alike. Forcing the old, reactogenic vaccine
on service members only masks the urgent need for an alternative
to protect those truly at risk."
Contact: Sarah Moore, 202/225-5541
-30-
|
