Vaccinations Were Given Despite Judge's Order

Washington Post
February 3, 2005
Pg. 4

More than 900 soldiers were given anthrax vaccinations in the past three months despite a federal judge's order in October to stop the program because the vaccine had not been properly tested and approved.
Col. Steven P. Jones, director of the military vaccine agency, informed Judge Emmet G. Sullivan yesterday that the vaccinations were given even though Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld sent out a directive in late October ordering that the vaccinations be stopped until further notice.

In a statement presented to the judge, Jones also said that after learning that some vaccinations were continuing, he sent out a message to all military medical sites around the world, telling officials to remove any anthrax vaccine that might remain in their refrigerators.

At the request of the Pentagon, the Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency authorization late last month that would allow the vaccine to be used without full agency review and approval. The department said it has no plans to immediately re-start its program.