Terrorist attacks don’t discriminate. Whether you’re pushing 99 or just taking your first steps, if you’re in the affected area, you’re in trouble. In light of this, and the real risk of a biological attack on the US, American scientists and officials are advocating the testing of an Anthrax vaccine on children.

The Obama administration are in the middle of a very tricky debate; whether to give the go-ahead for testing the vaccine on children, or if they should wait for an attack and then gather data. Following an endorsement of the testing in September, many people expressed outrage, citing that it was unethical, unnecessary and unsafe. The National Biodefense Science Board will meet later in the week to deliberate on its working group’s recommendation.

Anthrax is a life-threatening infection caused by a toxin-producing bacteria long considered a bioterrorist’s likely choice because it is relatively easy to produce and distribute over a large area. A week after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, letters containing anthrax spores arrived at several media offices and two Senate offices, killing five people and sickening 17 others. ”

The vaccine itself is not brand new, and has been administered to over 2,6 million people in the US military, as well as having undergone extensive testing in adults. What it boils down to is that children, unlike their older counterparts, will be vulnerable to the virus in the event of an attack. As children have never been exposed to it, experts can only speculate with regards to adequate dosage and what the effects would be. Furthermore, unlike like the majority of childhood diseases, the risk of Anthrax is entirely theoretical which plunges the necessity of the testing into further debate.

Despite the potential risks and possible side-effects of the vaccine, some officials are arguing that it would be better to face those challenges now rather than to wait for an attack and deal with the consequences. Without any guarantee of the safety of the vaccine and a risk which only exists in theory, it’s difficult to imagine that parents would willingly volunteer their children for testing.

[Source: Washington Post]