- The Pentagon will be expanding its anthrax and smallpox
vaccination program to include personnel currently serving in South Korea
and the Middle East. For the first time, troops serving in South Korea
will be required to receive anthrax and smallpox vaccinations.
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- Family members of personnel required to receive the vaccinations
will be offered the vaccinations on a voluntary basis. Essential civilian
employees working in the geographic region will also be required to receive
the vaccinations.
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- Since June 2002, the US Department of Defense has vaccinated
more than 750,000 members of the service with over 2.2 million doses of
anthrax vaccine. The Pentagon says refusals are extremely low.
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- More than 625,000 service members have received the smallpox
vaccination since 2002.
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- "The decision to protect additional personnel with
these vaccines reflects our concern for their health and safety as well
as the continuity of essential operations," said US assistant secretary
of defense for health affairs Dr. William Winkenwerder, Jr.
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