'Better' Anthrax Virus tested

Trials are set to begin on a new and potentially better anthrax vaccine.
Scientists in the United States will test the jab on 480 people as part of a government-funded study.

The vaccine has been developed by VaxGen. It is designed to last longer and have fewer side-effects than the existing vaccine.

However, these are early stage trials. Even if the jab proves effective it will be a number of years before it becomes available.

Anthrax

Here is some more info about VaxGen

VaxGen

Sounds promising anyway

More info is available through the links on the righthand side.


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The whole hubub about anthrax is much ado about nothing. It's virtually impossible to transmit from person to person (that is, it's not very contagious or "hot".)

A few distant relatives had anthrax in my family; they worked at a leather plant and came in contact with thousands of hides per day. Everyone survived. It's rather over-hyped if you ask me and doesn't pose an immenant threat to "security," or anything else. It's generally treatable if caught, and the usual suspects are susceptible to it: elderly, young children, et al.

Vaccination of the populace is misguided and seems more like a hyped-up diversion.

[Edited on 1-5-2004 by mauskov]

Any vaccine to a chemical is good but i dont like the idea of human testing especialy being in early stage trials to many things can go wrong.

Dr Geoffrey Gorse,
St Louis University
Officials insist the vaccine is safe. However, it is controversial. Some soldiers claim it is linked to Gulf War Syndrome.

Also the current vaccine being linked to Gulf War Syndrome." And The main problem with the existing vaccine is that a number of injections are required over a few months before it becomes fully effective. Booster shots are also needed every year."

"The current US jab requires six inoculations as part of the vaccination schedule," he said. "The British one requires three to four inoculations. A vaccine that required fewer jabs would be of benefit."

Lets just hope in future better ways of testing can be found and it would only take one jab to fix the problem .








[Edited on 1-5-2004 by SE7EN]