Vaccination vs. Treatment

Given that anthrax spores can remain dormant in the body for months after inhalation, an antibiotic regimen of 60 to 100 days is standard treatment. Compliance to this regimen may be challenging.

Because early symptoms of anthrax disease are non-specific, a delay between exposure to anthrax and diagnosis of disease may occur and may render post-exposure treatments less effective. As observed in the 2001 letter attacks, by the time individuals were symptomatic, antibiotics prevented death in only 6 out of 11 cases³.

The best way to protect against infectious diseases is to get vaccinated before exposure. A vaccine is currently available for pre-exposure protection against anthrax. It is called BioThrax.

BioThrax may not protect all individuals vaccinated, particularly patients with impaired immune responses due to congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, or immunosuppressive therapy. Individuals are not considered protected until they have completed the full vaccination series.

Next: Common Vaccine Questions