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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: KIMBERLY NIELSEN
May 15, 2000 (202) 225-3415
 
HOUSE TO VOTE ON KEY POLICY CHANGES 
TO MANDATORY ANTHRAX VACCINE PROGRAM 
Rep. Jones’ Provisions to Monitor Adverse Reactions, Record Vaccine Refusals 
 
Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this week on a number of policy changes to the Department of Defense’s anthrax vaccine program, included in the Fiscal Year 2001 defense authorization bill (H.R. 4205).  The legislation includes provisions secured by Congressman Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Member of the House Committee on Armed Services, to expand the congressional oversight of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program.
 
“This week, the House has an opportunity to better review the impact of the mandatory anthrax vaccine program on the readiness of our Armed Forces.” Jones said. “Since the program’s inception in 1997, a steady stream of our United States soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines have terminated their military service due to their widespread concerns surrounding the safety and necessity of the vaccine.  Now, the House has a chance to make needed changes to the program and prevent losing even more highly trained and qualified personnel.”

 Rep. Jones was able to secure a number of provisions in H.R. 4205 that would:
 

  • establish a system to track, record, and report military personnel who refuse the vaccine,
  • expand the system of surveillance to observe patterns of adverse reactions to the vaccine,
  • improve financial accountability of the Department of Defense’s sole-source contract with BioPort to produce the vaccine,
  • broaden the level of care to service members who experience adverse reactions to the vaccine, and
  • direct the Department of Defense to develop dual-source procurement contracts for future vaccine programs.


 Congressman Walter Jones is the author of H.R. 2543, which would make the mandatory anthrax vaccine voluntary until the Food and Drug Administration can approve a new anthrax vaccine or reduce its current six-shot course.
 
Jones represents North Carolina’s Third Congressional District – which includes Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, Cherry Point Marine Air Station, New River Marine Air Station, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station – in the U.S. House of Representatives.
 
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