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but most of these vaccines were developed before bioterrorism
emerged as a threat, and few are widely available
| BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS: AVAILABILITY OF VACCINES | ||||
|
DISEASE |
SYMPTOMS |
VACCINE'S EFFECTIVENESS | AVAILABILITY |
|
| Anthrax | First signs of inhaled anthrax may resemble those of a common cold; then breathing problems, hemorrhage, edema and shock. Untreated, about 90% of cases are fatal | An early version of the U.S. vaccine was 93% successful in protecting against the disease. Full treatment involves six shots followed by an annual booster | Only to military personnel and others whose jobs put them at high risk; approved only for healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 65 | |
| Pneumonic Plague | Fever, chills, weakness, shortness of breath, cough with bloody sputum. If not treated early, rapid onset of septic shock and death | May prevent bubonic plague, but that is not the form of the disease that would likely result from a bioweapon attack. Pneumonic plague should be treated with antibiotics | Recommended only for people who work with the plague pathogen, Yersinia pestis, or in plague-infested areas | |
| Smallpox | High fever, fatigue, severe headache and backache, followed by a characteristic rash and deep, round lesions. Highly infectious | Given prior to exposure, provides almost 100% protection against the disease. Still effective up to four days after exposure | Extremely limited. Not recommended since 1980, when disease was eradicated. The U.S. has a few million doses; 40 million more on order | |
| Botulism | Blurred vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, progressive muscle weakness that spreads from head to toe, paralysis, respiratory failure | Believed effective against five of the seven types of botulism toxin but still being tested | Only on an experimental basis for those believed at high risk of exposure. The standard treatment is to administer antitoxin after exposure | |
| Tularemia | Abrupt onset of high fever, followed by pneumonia, pleuritis and systemic infection. Can lead to respiratory failure, shock or death. Highly infectious | Provides partial protection against infection by inhalation or direct contact. Antibiotics are the treatment of choice | Only given to people who work routinely with tularemia bacteria. Not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration | |
| From TIME Magazine, October 8, 2001 | ||||
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