“We are beginning to make some progress,” Jones said.  “The Pentagon’s anthrax vaccine program has been plagued from the onset, forcing a number of military personnel to choose a court martial or terminate their service rather than take the vaccine.  This threatens the overall strength of our military.”

“This is the first real progress we have made since we began fighting to protect the mandatory nature of the program.  I am pleased to have gained the support of a number of my colleagues and I hope this provides the momentum we need to continue our efforts,” Jones said.
 
 H.R. 4205 would make the following changes to the mandatory program:
 

• 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 the 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.