Appeals court asked to reinstate mandatory DOD anthrax vaccinations News
Appeals court asked to reinstate mandatory DOD anthrax vaccinations

[JURIST] The Bush Administration Thursday asked the US DC Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate the US Defense Department's mandatory anthrax vaccination program [official website]. The anthrax vaccine is currently labeled for use by individuals who are at high risk for exposure to the disease; however, the Bush Administration argued that that definition is broad enough to include military personnel. In October 2004, a US federal district court ordered the DOD to suspend its mandatory vaccination program [PDF opinion; JURIST report] because of faulty approval by the Food and Drug Administration [official website]. In March 2005, a federal district court ruled [PDF opinion; JURIST report] that DOD could administer anthrax vaccinations on a voluntary basis. AP has more.