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Experimental Vaccinations Begin Today

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<cherokee

Thursday, December 27, 2001 9:56 AM

[CIDSNetwork] Experimental Vaccinations Begin Today

 

 

> Postal Worker Vaccinations to Begin Today

> Some Brentwood Employees Wary of Experimental Precaution Against Anthrax

>

> By Justin Blum

> Washington Post Staff Writer

> Thursday, December 27, 2001; Page B02

>

> U.S. Postal Service employees who worked at the Brentwood Road facility

> will be offered anthrax

> vaccinations beginning this morning, as well as additional antibiotics

> to prevent anthrax, according to

> postal and federal health officials.

>

> Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they

> were unsure how many of

> the 2,100 Brentwood employees were interested in the experimental

> vaccination and the additional

> supply of drugs to prevent them from developing anthrax.

>

> Yesterday, a number of postal employees who had been to presentations by

> the CDC said they

> considered the vaccination unproven and risky. Some said they would

> consider taking an additional

> 40 days of antibiotics, but others said they would decline that, too,

> citing serious side effects from

> their initial 60-day course of antibiotics.

>

> " I'll take my chances, " said Reginald Thomas, 43, a postal maintenance

> worker. " It's like you're

> being used -- like we're laboratory rats. . . . I think they want to see

> how the vaccine is going to

> work on you. "

>

> Federal health officials have recommended the additional 40 days of

> antibiotics or a combination of

> antibiotics and the vaccine for Brentwood workers because of the risk

> they might face. Two

> Brentwood employees died and two others became ill with inhalation

> anthrax after letters

> contaminated with anthrax spores were processed in the Northeast

> Washington facility, which

> handled all incoming and outgoing mail for the city before it was

> shuttered Oct. 21.

>

> Health officials have said more medication might be needed because

> anthrax spores could survive

> longer in the lungs than had been previously thought and could sicken

> people after the initial antibiotic

> regimen ends.

>

> Federal officials have said there is not enough scientific evidence to

> support a recommendation for

> the vaccine and antibiotic combination vs. only the antibiotic. The D.C.

> Department of Health has

> recommended against the vaccine, citing a lack of scientific evidence.

>

> Those who choose the vaccine must sign a medical release and receive no

> assurances of the

> vaccination's effectiveness. They also receive no promise of financial

> or medical assistance if the

> vaccine causes illness.

>

> There is no indication that the vaccine is effective in preventing

> infection after exposure, health

> officials have said. At best, the vaccine is assumed to help only for

> several months, they said.

>

> According to a Postal Service spokeswoman, all Brentwood workers are

> being required to attend

> group sessions with representatives of the CDC, who explain the pros and

> cons of the treatment

> options. Beginning today, more than 350 postal workers who have attended

> those briefings can go

> to individual sessions with CDC doctors and then choose the vaccine

> regimen or just antibiotics.

> Additional group presentations and individual sessions will be given to

> accommodate the remaining

> workers.

>

> The vaccinations and antibiotics will be dispensed today and Saturday at

> postal facilities in Northeast

> Washington and in Hyattsville, the postal spokeswoman said. On Friday

> and Sunday, they will be

> provided at postal offices in Capitol Heights and Gaithersburg. Most

> employees from Brentwood

> have been shifted to those four areas.

>

> Postal workers must decide by Jan. 7 whether they want to take the

> vaccine, said CDC spokesman

> Curtis Allen.

>

> A number of those who worked at Brentwood and who were at the V Street

> Annex in Northeast

> Washington yesterday said they did not know anyone who planned to take

> the vaccine. " It hasn't

> been tested and proven, " said William Matthews, 50, a letter carrier.

> " They don't know what it's

> going to do. . . . No one is saying to take it. It's at your own risk. "

>

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