DOD officials 'pause' anthrax vaccination program Published Oct. 28, 2004 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Department of Defense officials are "pausing" the anthrax vaccination program while they review a preliminary injunction issued Oct. 27 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.The injunction did not question the safety and effectiveness of the anthrax vaccine or the DOD immunization program. The injunction centered on Food and Drug Administration procedural issues stating that additional public comment should have been sought before FDA officials issued their final rule in December 2003, a DOD spokesman said.Defense officials said the vaccination program is an important force protection measure. Research conducted by several prominent medical experts and a report by the National Academy of Sciences have shown that the anthrax vaccine is safe and effective for all forms of anthrax exposure.As a result of the injunction, DOD officials said they will pause the vaccinations until the legal situation is clarified.The ruling is similar to the judge’s injunction issued in December 2003. At that time, DOD officials also paused the program pending clarification of the legal issues. The 2003 injunction was lifted roughly two weeks later.DOD remains convinced the program complies with all the legal requirements, and the vaccine is safe and effective, officials said.A copy of Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld’s memorandum concerning the action is at www.defenselink.mil/news/Oct2004/d20041027anthrax.pdf.