# Can I ask for an anthrax vaccination?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 17, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083 "2001-09-17T03:48:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/1 "2001-09-17T03:48:58Z")
Let’s say I let those little, paranoid voices in my head have their way, and I decided I wanted to get an anthrax vaccine.
Could I?
I read the CDC’s info about the vaccine (3 shots, 2 weeks apart, with follow ups at 6, 12 and 18 months.) Those little voices are saying, “Small price to pay.”
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### Author:  [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/2 "2001-09-17T03:59:48Z")
This should tell you all you want to know about it. [http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/Flash\_interface/default.html](http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/Flash_interface/default.html)
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### Author:  [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/3 "2001-09-17T04:03:01Z")
The little voices in _my_ head are saying:
“adverse side effects”
“no demonstrated efficacy against airborne spores”
“the ONLY manufacturer of the vaccine just lost FDA approval to make it due to numerous violations”
Not that I’m paranoid or anything. 😃
Check out this site:
[http://www.gulfwarvets.com/anthrax5.htm](http://www.gulfwarvets.com/anthrax5.htm)
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### Author:  [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/4 "2001-09-17T04:04:33Z")
Well, do any of these fit you?
[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax\_g.htm#whovacc](http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm#whovacc)
> [@](#):
>
> The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommend anthrax vaccination for the following groups:
>
> Persons who work directly with the organism in the laboratory
>
> Persons who work with imported animal hides or furs in areas where standards are insufficient to prevent exposure to anthrax spores.
>
> Persons who handle potentially infected animal products in high-incidence areas. (Incidence is low in the United States, but veterinarians who travel to work in other countries where incidence is higher should consider being vaccinated.)
>
> Military personnel deployed to areas with high risk for exposure to the organism (as when it is used as a biological warfare weapon).
>
> Pregnant women should be vaccinated only if absolutely necessary.
Personally, just knowing that it’s the Department of Defense that’s pushing it (for military personnel) tends to make my alarm bells go off. The last time I went and got vaccinated just because the Feds told me to, was the swine flu vaccine in 1976, and that was a big washout.
And anyway, the point may be moot. I’ve been poking around on Google, and the only websites dealing with anthrax vaccinations are the military ones. It doesn’t look like you can go down to the Family Practice clinic and request an anthrax vaccination just because you’re worried about it.
But I could be wrong. Don’t wanna spend a _whole_ lot of time on this. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/5 "2001-09-17T04:10:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \*
> **Well, do any of these fit you? (list follows)**
Nope.
But I keep getting flashbacks of the movie _The Stand._
Hm. Maybe I’ll just call my doctor and flat-out ask him.
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### Author:  [@Tedster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tedster)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/6 "2001-09-17T04:16:27Z")
I’m quite certain if you can find a doctor to prescribe it, you can initiate the series. It isn’t just one shot.
When DOD mandated everyone under there control receive the series, alarm bells went off. They do not undertake these things on a whim.
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### Author:  [@johnson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnson)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2001, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-ask-for-an-anthrax-vaccination/82083/7 "2001-09-17T11:56:03Z")
I doubt you could get it if you wanted it. If I’m not mistaken, the military is currently having a difficult time getting enough of the vaccine, and the only company that produces it is bankrupt.