Originally published July 25, 2023 8:06 am PDT
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval of Emergent BioSolutions’ updated anthrax vaccine, Cyfendus, has attracted criticism due to concerns over its ingredients and potential side effects.
Meryl Nass, M.D., a noted expert in bioterrorism and anthrax, criticized the vaccine’s composition, stating, “You can’t make this stuff up,” after reviewing the package insert that the FDA published.
According to the product insert, Cyfendus uses two adjuvants: an aluminum adjuvant and a synthetic one, CPG7909.
Furthermore, it includes formaldehyde and benzethonium chloride as preservatives, substances that are known to carry risks.
Formaldehyde is a recognized carcinogen, while benzethonium chloride, commonly found in cleaning agents, can be highly toxic if swallowed, The Defender points out.
Past studies have linked aluminum, often used to trigger autoimmunity in lab animals, to a wide range of ailments.
From Alzheimer’s and autism to Gulf War Illness, a condition experienced by many military personnel who received an anthrax vaccination.
Cyfendus is meant to be administered after potential exposure to Bacillus anthracis, or anthrax, in combination with other antibacterial drugs.
The vaccine’s efficacy, however, has been questioned by Dr. Nass.
She highlighted that, “You can’t be sprayed with anthrax and then get vaccinated and then patiently wait a month to develop immunity. You’d be dead by then,” underlining the potentially ineffective nature of the vaccine and the FDA’s admission that the vaccine “doesn’t work.”
Moreover, the lack of anthrax cases worldwide makes it challenging to test the vaccine’s efficacy in humans, meaning its effectiveness is yet to be confirmed.
Rabbit testing suggests a survival probability of only 70% eight weeks post-administration, a figure Dr. Nass described as “does not sound promising.”
Review of clinical studies indicates potential adverse effects, with significant portions of participants experiencing side effects such as limited arm usage, systemic reactions, and a reluctance to accept a second dose.
Notably, the vaccine was associated with birth defects when administered to pregnant women.
The Defender noted that Brian Hooker, Ph.D., P.E., the chief scientific officer for Children’s Health Defense, echoed these concerns, remarking, “The anthrax vaccine used in the military has been a horrible failure with links to GWI and other neurological sequelae. My fear is that they’ll recommend it broadly for adults [after anthrax exposure], which would be a huge mistake.”
The vaccine’s manufacturer, Emergent BioSolutions, is no stranger to controversy, having previously faced criticism over the production of the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.
Despite these controversies, Emergent’s stock rose 30% following the FDA approval of Cyfendus, The Defender emphasized.
