Friendly Fire: The Mandatory Military Anthrax Vaccination Program

however, in March 2000.Major Bates refused to follow a direct order. 6 The direct order was to take the anthrax vaccine. 7 There is little controversy that anthrax poses a serious threat.Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen authorized the anthrax vaccination program because "anthrax poses a clear and present danger to our armed forces.It is the weapon of choice for germ warfare because it is easy to weaponize and is as lethal as the Ebola virus." 8Anthrax is produced by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.Contamination can occur in three ways: through the skin, by ingestion, and by inhalation. 9Inhalation of anthrax, caused by the release of anthrax spores into the air, poses the largest threat because spores are highly lethal and easily manufactured. 10 In fact, anthrax spores can be spread easily over a large area and can be stored effectively for decades. 11Although everyone agrees that anthrax poses a serious threat, not everyone agrees that the anthrax vaccine is a safe and effective way to minimize that threat.Sonnie Bates has become a symbol of the raging debate about the legality and effectiveness of the military's mandatory anthrax vaccination program (AVIP). 12Bates refused the vaccine based on his safety concerns.In a memorandum to the Air Force explaining his decision, Bates stated, 6.