Health Risk Communication in the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program: Lessons for the Future
Abstract
When Secretary of Defense William Cohen announced that all military service members would be vaccinated with the anthrax vaccine, few anticipated the widespread reluctance to accept his directive. Service members were already required to take several vaccinations and this new force protection measure involved a vaccine that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1970. In response to the unanticipated opposition on the Internet and in the press, an extensive information campaign was developed. This paper suggests that a more proactive educational program with a greater utilization of health risk communication techniques could have reduced much of the negative reaction to the anthrax vaccine. Such techniques as early use of focus groups and surveys could have measured the effectiveness and comprehension of the message. Early evaluations could have identified challenges involving trust, credibility, and organizational biases, which appeared as the program matured. More focused application of effective health risk communication techniques in the creation of the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program would have reduced the amount of controversy generated by the program. Lessons learned by studying the development and implementation of health risk communication in the anthrax program can be applied to other military programs, including not only those involving vaccines, but also those having to do with controversial issues such as depleted uranium rounds or toxic exposure standards.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA596703
Entities
People
- Bradley D. Freeman
Organizations
- United States Army War College