Vaccine (Bacterial — Anthrax Prevention)

Anthrax Vaccine

Brand names: Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA), BioThrax (US); UK: specialist supply

Adult dose

Dose: Primary series: 3 doses at 0, 4 weeks, and 6 months (with or without 12-month and 18-month boosters depending on indication). Annual booster if continued risk

Route: Intramuscular (deltoid)

Frequency: See schedule

Clinical pearls

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) vaccine used for occupational risk groups: laboratory workers, veterinarians, military personnel, and those processing animal products from high-risk areas
Post-exposure prophylaxis for cutaneous or inhalation anthrax: combination of 3-dose vaccine series PLUS ciprofloxacin or doxycycline 60-day course
UK anthrax vaccine is supplied through specialist occupational health and military channels — not commercially available
Inhalation anthrax is the most lethal form — 50%+ mortality without treatment
Bioterrorism preparedness: anthrax has been used as a biological weapon (e.g., 2001 US postal attacks)

Contraindications

Anaphylaxis to previous dose of anthrax vaccine
Severe allergy to any vaccine component
Not for post-exposure prophylaxis alone — antibiotics required alongside

Side effects

Local reactions (pain, erythema, swelling at injection site — common)
Fatigue, headache (common)
Myalgia
Anaphylaxis (rare)

Interactions

Other vaccines — can be given at different sites
Immunosuppressants — may reduce vaccine immunogenicity

Monitoring

Injection site reactions
Antibody response can be assessed (anti-protective antigen IgG) in occupational programmes
Adverse event reporting via Yellow Card

Reference: BNF; PHE/UKHSA Anthrax: guidance (2022); UKHSA Green Book Chapter 10 (Anthrax); https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/anthrax-vaccine/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways