Saint Louis University is the current site of development in the fight against biological terrorism. It is currently taking steps to effectively increase the nations supply of the smallpox vaccine known as Dryvax.
Despite the decreasing number of anthrax cases in the United States, leaders are still taking the threat that other diseases may make their way into the population very seriously. Steps are being taken to find a more easily developed and more effective vaccination, however, until that medication is developed, Dr. Sharon Frey of the SLU School of Medicine is working to dilute the Dryvax vaccine to the point where the supply can radically increase, yet still be effective.
There are currently seven million doses of the vaccine in the U.S. This, however, is not enough to vaccinate the population of 285 million.
“Being able to dilute the vaccine would potentially increase the available stock by five-to-tenfold,” said Frey.
The research is currently threatened though by a lack of volunteers who are willing to take part in the study. “A total of 171 volunteers are needed,” said Frey. However, as of 8 a.m. Tuesday, researchers had only vaccinated 77 people.
“Most of the people who want to volunteer to participate in the study don’t fit in the age range,” said Frey.
Volunteers must be 18-32 years in age; in good health; no chronic illness and no history of serious allergic reactions; no history of smallpox vaccination or infection; no problems with your immune system; and no contact with anyone who is pregnant, less than 12 months of age, has eczema or has problems with his/her immune system.
Researchers will exclude anyone who has an immune-system problem, such as HIV/AIDS, cancer treatment and steroid medications.
Those interested can call the Center for Vaccine Development at SLU School of Medicine at (314) 977-6333.
Those enrolled in the study will receive one of three doses of Dryvax. The first will be a full, undiluted dose, the second diluted five times, and the third, 10 times.
“It is my way of contributing to the critical situation that society’s faced with right now,” said Kati Tusinski, a 24-year-old master’s candidate in communications at SLU, who received the vaccination two weeks ago. “Hopefully, my participation will help other people.”
The vaccine will be administered through the first week of December. “We hope to be finished by Thanksgiving,” said Frey.
SLU is currently the lead researcher in the study to effectively dilute Dryvax, but it is taking part in the study with three other schools: The University of Maryland, University of Baylor in Fort Worth, Texas. and Rochester University in Rochester, N.Y.
Even though the disease was eradicated 20 years ago, U.S. officials are worried that the forms produced in the Soviet Union as biological warfare will fall into the hands of terrorists.
