Medical Readiness: Issues Concerning the Anthrax Vaccine

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO discussed the results of its work on the anthrax vaccine, focusing on: (1) the extent to which data support the need for six initial shots and an annual booster of the anthrax vaccine; (2) the relative merits and weaknesses of a passive surveillance system in determining adverse events; (3) the available data on differences in adverse reaction rates between men and women receiving the anthrax vaccine; and (4) the disadvantages of the vaccine and the status of federal efforts to develop an improved anthrax vaccine.