Roll Call: DoD resumes anthrax vaccination

Published March 27, 2007
By Senior Leadership
Pentagon

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Vaccinations become mandatory for some deployers, special ops Airmen, Airmen with orders to, or are currently in, specific high-threat areas, such as the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility or the Korean Peninsula, are required to begin or continue the anthrax vaccine series of inoculations.

Airmen are required to receive the vaccine if they will be in these designated areas for more than 15 consecutive days. The vaccinations are also mandatory for special mission units, regardless of location, such as tactical air controllers or rescue personnel.

Also, Airmen can voluntarily elect to continue getting the Anthrax vaccine series whether or not they will be deploying or assigned to these areas, if they had at least one Anthrax vaccine dosage since 1998.

For your information:
- Keep in mind anthrax attacks can occur anywhere. Anthrax spores make a lethal weapon and can be inhaled without knowledge.
- Inhalation Anthrax is the most deadly form of the disease (99 percent fatal if untreated)
- Getting the vaccine helps with your personal protection.
- In December 2005, the anthrax vaccine was found to be safe and effective against all forms of anthrax, including inhalation.
More information about Anthrax vaccinations can be obtained by viewing the AVIP tri-fold Brochure (PDF): http://www.anthrax.mil/documents/996AvipTrifold.pdf