Is the Anthrax vaccine and/ or Smallpox vaccine still administered to service members?

Question

I am thinking about going back into the armed forces, I have been out for a few years and I want to know if I will be forced to recieve either of these vaccines? I am willing to get the Smallpox, but I will not get the Anthrax.

Answer 1

the small pox shot is being administered to personnel that have not had it and deploying to OEF and OIF at this time,,, the anthrax shot is going to be given again in the near future.they have already started administering it to some unit that are being deployed

Answer 2

Currently, they will check your small pox (if its within 15 years your good, if not - they will re-inoculate you). Anthrax shots have been suspended. BTW - the Anthrax vaccine (a series of six shots - the first one hurt like heck for about a week, the rest were a lot less painful) is not some new shot cooked up in response to weaponized Anthrax. The vaccine regimen has been around since 1949 and is mostly used for cattle ranchers who have the most exposure to natural Anthrax due to dead cows, with little to no side effects. All the hocus-pocus rumors and myths about crazy stuff that happens when you get the shots are just that - rumors and myths. I have yet to hear of any mass steralization or rampid brain cancer in ranchers for the last 60 years, and there have yet to be any wide spread reports about American servicemen falling victim to side effects. Regardless - the program is suspended so it's not an issue - no Anthrax shots.

Answer 3

The vaccine adverse to smallpox is created from purified and attenuated cowpox (vaccinia) virus. that is derived from calf lymph and is not depending on there being any actual smallpox virus accessible as none is contained in the vaccine. Smallpox has been eradicated contained in the wild around the realm because vaccination replaced into so helpful. There are samples of the virus saved contained in the u . s . and Russia in nicely managed laboratories. besides the undeniable fact that, that is continually conceivable that some rogue us of a or crew has get good of entry to to smallpox virus and can want to likely use it in a organic and organic attack. We hence favor to save a inventory of vaccine adverse to it and to confirm that troops being deployed into circumstances the position organic and organic guns can be used are honestly secure.

Answer 4

Smallpox is mandatory and untill recently Anthrax was optional but the FDA just approved it and it is now mandatory also.

Answer 5

I have had them both. Not that big a deal.
(Your arm will ache something fierce though.)

You might want to look up what the details of these 'side effects' are. I'm sorry but I regard a soldier complaining about a 'sore arm' (when mine hurts just as bad) as something of a whiner.

Answer 6

anthrax is no longer mandetory, yes you have to get small pox again, unless yours isn't expired.