Chemically Programmed Vaccination

The adamantane moiety is of medicinal chemical interest because of its inertness, compactness relative to lipid solubilizing character, and symmetry. Considerable interest, therefore, was engendered by the finding that amantadine (78) was active for the chemoprophylaxis of influenza A in man. There are not many useful chemotherapeutic agents available for the treatment of communicable viral infections, so this finding led to considerable molecular manipulation. The recent abrupt end of the National Influenza Immunization program of 1976 prompted a new look at the nonvaccine means for prophylaxis or treatment of respiratory tract infections due to influenza A, especially in that the well-known antigenic shift or drift of the virus obviates usefulness of the vaccine but not amantadine. 

Our initial expectations were that we would interview far more FDA officials than we did. However, we ended up interviewing more DoD officials, at all levels of policy and operations. Officials were interviewed in the following DoD offices Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP) J-4 Eogistics Directorate Office of the ASD(HA) JPO-BD the Defense Supply Center in Philadelphia Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs U.S. Army Soldier Biological and Chemical Command U.S. Army Medical Materiel Development Activity and U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases... 

Due to their expanded scope of chemical and biological defense associated with the war on terrorism, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services, especially in the area of vaccines, may impact the Joint CBD Program. The committee believes, however, that its recommendations remain applicable, although the Department of the Navy should follow closely and leverage these activities as much as possible. 

Medical Chemical and Biological Countermeasures Finding Shortfalls in Both Navy and Joint Drug and Vaccine Programs... 

Danley D. 1997. Unpublished oral remarks on the DoD Vaccine Program. Meeting of the Committee on Improving Civilian Medical Response to Chemical and Biological Terrorism Incidents, Washington, DC. July 24. 

JPEO-CBD views the program in line with the JRO-CBRND operational elements in terms of acquisition and fielding of products (e.g., JCAD (Joint Chemical Agent Detector), anthrax vaccine). 

However, infections from other viruses present significant risks. The hepatitis viruses (A, B, C, and D) became recognized as very real hazards for laboratory workers who handled human specimens, particularly blood. The risk of hepatitis infections from exposure to materials containing these viruses is much greater than the risk from HIV. Remarkably, a recent report indicated dramatic reductions in acute hepatitis infections, principally due to strong vaccination programs for children for hepatitis A and B—a clear illustration of the need for hepatitis vaccination for laboratory workers exposed to human specimens. See Special Topic 43.3.1 Chemical Analysis of Human Specimens. 

Biological medicines cannot be adequately characterized by physical or chemical means alone. They include bacterial and viral vaccines, blood and serum products, and other immunological, endocrinological, and cell-based medicines. Biologicals play a significant role in medicine and public health, as well as featuring in transplantation and cell therapy programs. 

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