BERNARD SHAW, CNN ANCHOR: A U.S. Defense Department program to inoculate the entire American military against anthrax is coming under fire. Some members of the House of Representatives say the shots should be suspended because of safety concerns. CNN's Skip Loescher reports.</s>REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (D), CONNECTICUT: We think they have made a gigantic mistake.</s>SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A House subcommittee says the Pentagon should never have required everyone in the military to be vaccinated against the deadly anthrax bacteria, and it wants the mandatory program stopped until a better vaccine is developed.</s>SHAYS: It's tragic. We're seeing some of our military in the active force being court-martialled because they simply refuse to take this vaccine.</s>LOESCHER: The subcommittee contends the vaccine may well be making some servicemen and women sick and may not provide them with enough protection against weapons-grade anthrax. One veterans organization says the G.I.'s it's spoken to just don't trust the vaccine.</s>MATT PUGLISI, AMERICAN LEGION: There just isn't a sufficient amount of trust and confidence in many troops regarding the vaccination program.</s>LOESCHER: But the Food and Drug Administration and the Pentagon claim the vaccine is both safe and effective.</s>DR. SUE BAILEY, U.S. ASST. DEFENSE SECRETARY: We have a very safe and effective vaccine against a very deadly biologic agent that we know to be in the hands of many of our adversaries.</s>LOESCHER: It could take years to develop a new vaccine. The Pentagon says it's troops need protection now.</s>MAJ. GEN. RANDALL WEST, U.S. MARINE CORPS: We can't wait until we've got a new and improved vaccine to give them the protection that they need.</s>LOESCHER: And for now, at least, the Pentagon says, we're not going to halt the program. Skip Loescher, CNN, Washington.
Military's Anthrax Vaccination Program Comes Under Fire