Anthrax vaccine to test children?

Anthrax vaccine to test children? It will be some time before the Government.

An advisory committee said on Friday, ethical issues need to be addressed - but if they can complete the vaccine in children be tested to ensure its safety and learning under the right circumstances, it is the dose required to terrorist attacks.

Fearing that terrorists might use potentially deadly bacteria, the Government has stockpiled vaccines. It has been widely adults, but never tested on children.

The question is whether to do the test, so doctors will know if the child's immune system to respond to the lens is not good enough, the signal protection. Children are not exposed to anthrax.

National Biodefense Science Board said Friday that an independent review committee should consider making such a test in a child's ethical problems. If this is successful, the group said that the Ministry of Health and Human Services should develop in the children's vaccine research program.

How to protect young people after the anthrax attacks, is a challenging problem, said Dr. Nicole Lurie, board members and public health preparedness and response services, assistant secretary. "Protection of children are still advocated that countries for me, the most important responsibilities, we as a nation."

The Board provides advice to the Ministry of Health and Human Services, chemical, biological and nuclear activities of the preparatory work. The 12-1 vote.

There is no deadline for the government to decide whether to go. If you do not agree, it's not clear how much time to find the funding of such research and medical centers clearance review committee will conduct a study.

Another big question is whether parents will sign their children to test the vaccine is no direct threat. It is impossible from the anthrax vaccine, but there are side effects. In adults, the shooting site pain, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, etc. is a major, and rare but serious allergic reactions have been reported.

Anthrax in several potential bioterrorism weapons and special interests, because it is in 2001, letters to the media and others, claiming five lives and sickening 17. This prompted extensive screening mail and postal facilities and government agencies for better ventilation and testing.
Doctors questioned whether children's immune systems to respond to the lens is not good enough, the signal protection. Children under the program will not be exposed to the test anthrax. The group said that due to the vaccine in the event of a bioterrorist attack using a large number of children, it is prudent to test whether the vaccine is safe management of children. The vote was 12 to 1 in favor of vaccination programs.

"We need to learn more about the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine development as we plan to use a child in a bioterrorism attack, large quantities of vaccine," says Ruth Berkelman of Emory University, agreed with the members of the group plan.

The Board suggested the same earlier this year, the U.S. established a vaccination scheme.

He said: "The U.S. government must do anticipatable better preparation for emergencies, according to their nature, chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack is the unpredictable, but in some cases, can be expected, it is According to the U.S. Government has the responsibility for their plan, "the Panel that, in time. "Under such circumstances, including anthrax spores potential exposure of children, therefore, the U.S. government should conduct clinical trials to determine the appropriate dose of anthrax vaccine in children. Similarly, the MCM should be assessed several other pediatric medicine."

Anthrax vaccine adsorbed has provided nearly 2.5 million members of the military, the researchers say, in the adult vaccine safety and immunogenicity profiles familiar. However, vaccination of children is not yet tested to improve the vaccine may not be sufficient concern about the attack.

Test in the past faced legal problems. Against members of the military's anthrax vaccine requires the proceedings, a federal judge suspended the program in 2004, approved the drug in the Food and Drug Administration found during the failure. U.S. Food and Drug Administration reiterated its finding that the vaccine is safe.

Anthrax in several potential bioterrorism weapons and special interests, because it is in 2001, letters to the media and others, claiming five lives and sickening 17. Since then, he served as U.S. large stocks of vaccine, in another common attacks.

The Obama administration asked a federal panel to consider the children are vaccinated in effort to determine the efficacy of the vaccine potential. The Board provides advice and guidance, the Department of Health and Human Services related to chemical, biological and nuclear accident emergency preparedness and other issues. Founded in 2006, by statute, NBSB has extensive expertise in science, medicine and public health 13 voting members.
The main panel of a government adviser (Friday) suggested that the federal government sponsored a controversial study to test whether children's anthrax vaccination will prevent bio-terrorist attacks of young Americans.

National Biodefense Science Board, the federal government on bioterrorism issues, investment and 12-1 suggest, the Ministry of Health and Human Services of a study to determine whether the vaccine is safe and effective for children, and determine the best dose. Iowa Department of Public Health, who chaired the panel, Quinlisk Patricia is the only opponents.

"We need to learn more about vaccine safety and immunogenicity, as we plan to use a large number of bio-terrorist attacks of childhood vaccines, said:" Lucy Siaimoli University, a team member Berkelman.

Panel adopted the recommendations of Berkelman, after further review of another group to specialize in difficult ethical issues it raises.

Assistant Secretary of HHS preparedness and response requires the Panel to review, Nicole Lurie, said officials will consider the Panel's recommendations, but she did not give a time frame of the decision.

Although the overwhelming majority of the panel to conduct a study, several critics said that this test is immoral, unnecessary risk.

"Vera said:" The open trial of major damage to children's health not good possibilities for human research protection advocacy group in New York League of Sharav.

Anthrax is a bacterial toxin produced by a life-threatening infections. It has long been considered possible options for bioterrorism, because it is relatively easy, large-scale production and distribution.

The federal government has spent $ 1.1 billion in reserves of vaccines to protect the American attacks. Although antibiotics will help to protect those immediately exposed, the vaccine to protect against lingering spores.

In 1998, the Pentagon began a controversial vaccination program, vaccine safety and reliability problems, which is challenged in court by military personnel.

The vaccine has been extensively tested in adults and more than 260 million people in the military administration. But the shot has never been tested or to their children, leaving it uncertain how the young people and in what doses of vaccine, and it is safe.


FBI accused of Bruce Ivins, the Army biodefense lab scientist, committed suicide before he could receive mail attacks.

Anthrax can be difficult to treat, especially if someone inhaled anthrax spores. Saved millions of doses of antibiotics since 2001 episode, two experimental treatments are being clear of toxins stored.

U.S. troops deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries need to be anthrax shot. Since 1998, more than 100 million have been vaccinated. Against the requirements of the proceedings, a federal judge suspended the program in 2004, approved the drug in the Food and Drug Administration found during the failure. Next year, the U.S. FDA reaffirmed its finding that the vaccine is safe.