IN SUPPORT OF ADEQUATELY SUPPLYING THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE WITH ANTHRAX VACCINE
WHEREAS,
the United States of America needs to have an adequate stockpile of biological
vaccines. This includes the only
approved and tested anthrax vaccine, while the next generation of biological
vaccines are being proposed, developed, and tested, the United States of
America needs to have an adequate supply of approved and proven biological
vaccines, this includes the only approved anthrax vaccine; and
WHEREAS, while the Department of
Defense has effectively and actively immunized more than one million soldiers
over the last five years from anthrax, with the only approved vaccine; and
WHEREAS,
if there is an anthrax attack today in the United States, the American people
and our first responders need to be prepared.
Our cities, states, and nation need adequate stockpiles of anthrax
vaccine today; and
WHEREAS,
the next generation of anthrax vaccines may not be tested and approved for
another five years; and
WHEREAS,
the recent setbacks in the next generation smallpox program should highlight
the need for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to reevaluate
its decisions regarding anthrax. Though
millions of dollars have been invested in the next generation smallpox, this
product may never be useable by the Strategic National Stockpile because of its
side effects. We may be headed in that
same direction with the next generation of anthrax vaccines; and
WHEREAS,
if there were an anthrax attack today involving multiple urban areas we would
not have enough vaccine to treat our citizens in accordance with CDC
recommendations, which call for three doses of anthrax vaccine and antibiotics;
and
WHEREAS,
the DHHS is putting all its efforts in one experimental and untested vaccine;
and
WHEREAS, the DHHS has plans to stockpile only a small
amount of the current and approved anthrax vaccine to date, and appears to have
no plans to stockpile more than a minimum level of the current FDA approved vaccine
to prevent anthrax,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that The United States Conference of Mayors urges Secretary Tommy Thompson to
increase the level of the FDA approved and tested anthrax vaccine into the
Strategic National Stockpile without delay; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The
United States Conference of Mayors calls on all its members to take all
necessary steps to protect the country’s cities over the next five years while
the next generation vaccines are being developed and approved by the FDA.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 