Uses
Anthrax is a serious disease that can affect both animals and humans. It is caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis. People can get anthrax from contact with infected animals, wool, meat, or hides. Anthrax vaccine is recommended for certain people 18 through 65 years of age who might be exposed to large amounts of bacteria on the job. It is also recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to anthrax in certain situations.
Cutaneous Anthrax. In its most common form, anthrax is a skin disease that causes skin ulcers and usually fever and fatigue. Up to 20% of these cases are fatal if untreated.
Gastrointestinal Anthrax. This form of anthrax can result from eating raw or undercooked infected meat. Symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, abdominal pain and swelling, and swollen lymph glands. Gastrointestinal anthrax can lead to blood poisoning, shock, and death.
Inhalation Anthrax. This form of anthrax occurs when B. anthracis is inhaled and is very serious. The first symptoms can include a sore throat, mild fever, and muscle aches. Within several days these symptoms are followed by severe breathing problems, shock, and often meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord covering). This form of anthrax requires hospitalization and aggressive treatment with antibiotics. It is often fatal.
Side Effects of the Anthrax Vaccine
Like any medicine, a vaccine could cause a serious problem, such as a severe allergic reaction.
Anthrax is a very serious disease, and the risk of serious harm from the vaccine is extremely small.
- Tenderness on the arm where the shot was given (about 1 person out of 2)
- Redness on the arm where the shot was given (about 1 out of 7 men and 1 out of 3 women)
- Itching on the arm where the shot was given (about 1 out of 50 men and 1 out of 20 women)
- Lump on the arm where the shot was given (about 1 out of 60 men and 1 out of 16 women)Bruise on the arm where the shot was given (about 1 out of 25 men and 1 out of 22 women)Muscle aches or temporary limitation of arm movement (about 1 out of 14 men and 1 out of 10 women)
- Headaches (about 1 out of 25 men and 1 out of 12 women)
- Fatigue (about 1 out of 15 men, about 1 out of 8 women)
- Serious allergic reaction (very rare – less than once in 100,000 doses).
As with any vaccine, other severe problems have been reported. But these don’t appear to occur any more often among anthrax vaccine recipients than among unvaccinated people.
There is no evidence that anthrax vaccine causes long-term health problems.
Independent civilian committees have not found anthrax vaccination to be a factor in unexplained illnesses among Gulf War veterans.
Warnings & Precautions
Anyone who has had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of anthrax vaccine should not get another dose.
Anyone who has a severe allergy to any vaccine component should not get a dose. Tell your provider if you have any severe allergies, including latex.
If you have ever had Guillain Barr syndrome (GBS), your provider might recommend not getting anthrax vaccine.
If you have a moderate or severe illness your provider might ask you to wait until you recover to get the vaccine. People with mild illness can usually be vaccinated.
Vaccination may be recommended for pregnant women who have been exposed to anthrax and are at risk of developing inhalation disease. Nursing mothers may safely be given anthrax vaccine.
Dosage Of Anthrax Vaccine
Anthrax vaccine is recommended for certain people 18 through 65 years of age who might be exposed to large amounts of bacteria on the job, including:
- certain laboratory or remediation workers
- some people handling animals or animal products
- some military personnel, as determined by the Department of Defense
These people should get five doses of vaccine (in the muscle): the first dose when the risk of potential exposure is identified, and the remaining doses at 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months after the first dose.
Annual booster doses are needed for ongoing protection.
If a dose is not given at the scheduled time, the series does not have to be started over. Resume the series as soon as practical.
Anthrax vaccine is also recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to anthrax in certain situations. These people should get three doses of vaccine (under the skin), with the first dose as soon after exposure as possible, and the second and third doses given 2 and 4 weeks after the first.
Other
Ask your doctor or other health care provider. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
