U.S. Forces in Korea to be Vaccinated for Anthrax and Smallpox.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on June 30 their vaccination plans for the U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) against anthrax and smallpox as countermeasures against North Korea`s biological weapons. Such a preventive measure has no precedent.

William Winkenwerder, Jr,. MD, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said in a briefing on June 30 that "In light of our successful implementation of these [anthrax and smallpox vaccination] programs, we will include selected units within the U.S. Pacific Command, additional personnel now serving with the U.S. Central Command, and selected other groups of individuals in the vaccination programs."

Dr. Winkenwerder added that the USFK is one of the additional units within the U.S. Pacific Command.

To a question asking whether the plan reflects the Pentagon`s belief that North Korea possesses and may be willing to use biological weapons, Brigadier General David Rodriguez answered "It`s a combination of suspected capabilities information, as well as the capability to make this anthrax quickly. It`s not that relatively difficult to do it." Dr. Winkenwerder explained that "we have vaccinated over 750,000 personnel for anthrax since of June of 2002 to date, and since December of `02, have vaccinated over 625,000 personnel against smallpox," and that "this is just a continuation of the basic structure of policy that we`ve had in place. The only change is the groups of individuals that are now included in that policy."

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com