The Institute for Biosecurity, in conjunction with Emergent BioSolutions of Rockville, MD, recently sent out a consensus document outlining its support for an action plan to offer vaccine protection to the civilian emergency responder and critical infrastructure workforce, similar to that afforded their federal counterparts.

The letter was sent nationwide to thousands of police, fire, and emergency responder professionals who would be in support of such an action plan. In addition, a “call to action” letter was sent to two dozen high-ranking federal government officials who have direct input on placing vaccines such as anthrax (AVA), hepatitis B, and influenza available on the government’s Authorized Equipment List (AEL).

The consensus statement reads in part: “We urge the Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and the Department of Homeland Security to immediately clear all barriers to the funding, acquisition, and delivery of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) to Emergency Responder/Critical Infrastructure workforce on a voluntary basis.”

The consensus document had the approval and consent of fire chiefs, police chiefs, and health department directors from around the country, as well as Institute faculty members.
Background information leading up to the development of the consensus statement may be found at http://bioterrorism.slu.edu/anthraxprotection.html.