Anthrax Vaccine Side Effects: What to Expect

Anthrax is a severe bacterial disease, but is extremely rare in the United States. Many years go by with no reported cases. The vaccine typically is provided only to people at high risk, such as military troops stationed in certain parts of the world. Several side effects are possible.

Most Common Effects

• The most common anthrax vaccine side effects are reactions at the injection site. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about half the people develop a lump at the site, and 10 to 17 percent experience itching, redness or soreness. These effects are more common in women.

Other Site Reactions

• About 5 percent of people develop a large area of redness at the injection site. More severe injection site reactions are rare, and include a large area of swelling, limited arm movement and armpit lymph node tenderness.

Common Systemic Effects

• About 20 percent of people receiving the anthrax vaccination develop headaches, muscle aches or joint aches. Other relatively common side effects include fatigue, fever, chills, lack of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

Allergic Reactions

• According to the CDC, life-threatening allergic reactions occur in fewer than 100,000 anthrax vaccinations. Some individuals have developed hives, difficulty breathing, and swollen hands, feet and face.

Rare Reports

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has received many reports of other adverse events occurring after anthrax immunization, but each is so rare that no cause has been established. These reports include Guillain-Barré syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis and pneumonia.