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DOD Workers to Sue Again on Anthrax Vaccinations
A group of Defense Department workers have renewed their legal battle to prevent the Pentagon from requiring many of its employees to receive anthrax vaccinations (see GSN, Oct. 17). The mandatory vaccine program had been stalled by a 2004 class-action lawsuit filed by six unnamed Pentagon employees, but the department announced plans in October to resume the program. The required vaccines have not yet begun to be administered, the Washington Post reported today. The vaccine has been offered voluntarily for the last two years, but DOD officials have said that only half the people it feels should take it are electing to be inoculated. Plaintiffs’ attorney Mark Zaid said he would file a new class-action suit today arguing that the vaccine has been improperly licensed. “We’ve never been antivaccine, we’re just against them forcing people to take it,” he said. “This vaccine is just completely unscientifically justified based on its effectiveness or necessity.” A Pentagon official disagreed. “We’ve always thought it was safe and effective,” said spokeswoman Cynthia Smith. “It’s necessary to keep people safe” (Josh White, Washington Post, Dec. 13).
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