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Vaccines
Immunizing the entire U.S. population against bioterrorist attack is unlikely. But experts agree that vaccines - currently in alarmingly short supply - must be developed as the first line of defense. Here is the status of the supply of vaccines against potential germ weapons.
• Smallpox: Routine vaccination ceased in 1980. Enough freeze-dried vaccine for 6-7 million people, produced by Wyeth Laboratories, remains in CDC storage from the 1970s. About 40 million doses of fresh vaccine, made by Acambis is expected by next summer.
• Anthrax: Licensed in 1970, the vaccine is reserved solely for military use. Supply limited because of delays getting FDA approval of new production facility by Bioport Corp. of Lansing Mich. The military plans to immunize 2.3 million service members. So far it has been given to 520,000.
• Plague: U.S. licensed vaccine was discontinued by manufacturers in 1999 and is no longer available. It would probably not protect against inhaled plague. Research is under way on vaccines that will do this.
• Tularemia: Vaccine has been used since the 1930s in Soviet Union. None currently available in U.S., although experimental one is used to protect scientists who work with tularemia bacteria.
• Viral hemorrahgic fevers Vaccines against ebola and other viruses under development at U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick in Maryland.
SOURCE: Associated Press, Centers for Disease Control