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
- Fact Sheets
- 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
- Technical disease information
Clinical Features, Etiologic Agent, Incidence, Complications, Transmission, Risk Groups, Surveillance, Trends, Challenges, etc. - 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
- Workplace Safety
Vaccine Recommendations on Anthrax
- FDA Approves Changes in the Schedule for Administering Anthrax
Vaccine and in the Route of Administration
In December 2008 FDA approved a supplement to the biologics application for anthrax vaccine adsorbed (BioThrax, manufactured by Emergent BioSolutions). The vaccine administration schedule is now 0 and 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months. Previously, the schedule was 0, 2, and 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months. The newly approved administration route is intramuscular; previously, it was subcutaneous.
- ACIP recommendations
- Contraindications
References and Resources
- Related MMWR articles, links, and references
- Related websites
- Pink Book's chapter on Anthrax
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Infection control guidelines on anthrax
Provider Education
- Training & Education
- Clinical education slide set
from the "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course
Materials for Patients
(Spanish materials)
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Content last reviewed on March 2, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases