Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Anthrax Vaccination
Pronounced (An-thraks)
There is a vaccine to prevent anthrax, but it is not yet available for the general public. Anyone who may be exposed to anthrax, including certain members of the U.S. armed forces, laboratory workers, and workers who may enter or re-enter contaminated areas, may get the vaccine. Also, in the event of an attack using anthrax as a weapon, people exposed would get the vaccine.
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- CDC's main Anthrax website
- Brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - Questions and Answers
- Pictures of Anthrax
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - Additional Fact Sheets & Overviews
About anthrax, suspicious packages… - Children and Anthrax: A Fact Sheet for Parents
- Side Effects
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Questions and Answers
- Vaccination overview, guidelines, research, references
- Mail Handlers
Info for postal workers & others who handle mail
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Anthrax
- Fact Sheet: Anthrax Information for Health Care Providers
- Diagnosis/Evaluation
- Environment/Response
- Exposure Management/Prophylaxis
- Infection Control
- Lab Testing
- Preparation & Planning
- Surveillance & Investigation
- Treatment
- Vaccination overview, guidelines, research, references
- Workplace Safety
Vaccine Recommendations on Anthrax
- ACIP Recommendations Updated July 2010
- Contraindications
- Package inserts
(BioThrax
, and more package inserts...) Feb 2010
References and Resources
Provider Education
- Training & Education
- Clinical education slide set
[PPT - 155KB]
from the 2006 "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course
Materials for Patients
- Clinical forms of anthrax
[PDF - 27KB] (compliant) - Treatment with specific drugs
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Antrax - Entendiendo la enfermedad (Spanish materials)
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Content last reviewed on March 2, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases