WASHINGTON -- Stung by continued pilot resignations over the mandatory anthrax shots, the Air Force is creating a task force to examine the year-old vaccine program, a high-level effort expected to press for more aggressive education and to study whether the losses are affecting military operations.

Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, the vice chief of staff, ordered the creation of the anthrax task force early this month after at least one-quarter of a California Air Force Reserve squadron quit rather than take the six-shot vaccine.

The task force, headed by Lt. Gen. David L. Vesely, is expected to begin meeting as early as next week and will draw on all parts of the Air Force.

Quarterly reports promised

"We'll review everything from the threat to the policies, processes, impacts on operations, morale, discipline, etc.," Vesely wrote in a memo to top Air Force officers that was obtained by The Sun. "We'll then report at least quarterly to the senior [Air Force] leadership on the status of the programs, define the issues and recommend actions."

The Pentagon ordered the vaccinations out of fear that Saddam Hussein or another rogue leader would unleash a deadly anthrax cloud against U.S. troops.

Anthrax, which occurs in domesticated and wild animals, causes a respiratory infection that is 99 percent lethal for humans. The anthrax spores can be placed inside missile warheads and other munitions, with the resulting explosion creating a cloud that could sweep over a battlefield.

Pentagon officials contend that the program, which began last March, is a success, with 223,333 military members having taken the shots by Tuesday. Defense Secretary William S. Cohen plans to inoculate all 2.4 million active-duty and reserve military members by 2003 at the earliest.

100 people have balked

Only about 100 service members, concerned about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, have refused the shots, defense officials say.

Still, there are concerns in the Pentagon that the number will continue to grow. With the entire force being inoculated, "even a small percentage turns out to be a significant number," said Lt. Gen. Charles H. Roadman II, the Air Force's surgeon general.

Roadman said the task force will delve into what is causing the refusals. "There's an underlying mistrust there that all of us feel is unfortunate," he said.

The task force will also devise a more sophisticated training and education effort in support of the vaccine.

Military personnel deploying to the Persian Gulf are the first to receive the anthrax inoculation, which is given in six shots over 18 months.

Defense officials are particularly concerned by the loss of Guard and Reserve pilots, who cost millions of dollars to train and who are increasingly being called upon to aid the active-duty military in operations at home and abroad.

More than half the Air Force's KC-10 and KC-135 aerial refueling planes and 64 percent of C-130 cargo planes are piloted by these citizen-soldiers, Air Force officials said. Unlike their active-duty counterparts, who face disciplinary action up to courts-martial for refusing the shots, Guard and Reserve pilots can resign.

Pentagon officials say there are no indications yet that the pilots' resignations are affecting military operations. "I don't believe it has degraded the readiness," said Roadman.

But pilots at the 79th Air Refueling Squadron at Travis Air Force Base in California say they are not flying some sorties because they don't have enough KC-10 pilots, a claim denied by squadron officials. Twelve of the squadron's 40 pilots took themselves out of the cockpit, Travis officials said. Squadron pilots say several more will step down.

Meanwhile, Travis officials confirmed that another six KC-10 pilots from the 70th Air Refueling Squadron have asked for transfers from flying duties. Officials say the pilots have not specified the reason, although in interviews the pilots point to the vaccine.

Eight members of the 103rd Fighter Wing of the Connecticut Air National Guard -- one-quarter of the wing's combat personnel -- have refused to fly because they are required to take the vaccine before deploying to the gulf.

FDA has approved vaccine

The Pentagon notes the vaccine has been in use since 1970 and has been deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration. But those refusing to take the shots say there have been no long-term health studies.

The vaccine was given to some 150,000 troops who took part in the Persian Gulf war. While some critics suspect the vaccine may be associated with the mysterious illness that has affected many veterans of that conflict, the Pentagon said two studies found no such evidence.

Pub Date: 3/18/99