Armed Forces News

Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, announced June 30 that the anthrax and smallpox vaccination programs would include selected units within the U.S. Pacific Command, additional personnel now serving with the U.S. Central Command and other selected groups of individuals. The program will continue to include personnel assigned or deployed to the selected units for 15 or more consecutive days. DoD will offer vaccinations to family members in these geographic areas on a voluntary basis. The department also will pursue vaccination, subject to appropriate personnel and contractor procedures, of emergency-essential civilian employees and comparable contractor personnel in the areas. DoD continues to reserve a portion of the vaccine supply for contingency use by other federal agencies.