Control of Dual-Threat Agents: The Vaccines for Peace Programme

The Vaccines for Peace (VFP) programme is designed to counter reservations about the military misuse of research into vaccines. It focuses on vaccines developed to combat those pathogens and toxins which can be used as weapon agents. In Control of Dual-Threat Agents a range of experts from fields as diverse as biotechnology, vaccinology, international law, and diplomacy discuss the VFP programme.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction: introduction, Erhard Geissler and John P. Woodall - introduction, vaccines for peace, the global epidemiological surveillance system proposal, the biesenthal vaccine initiative; the vaccines for peace programme - executive summary, Erhard Geissler and John P. Woodall; arms control, health care and technology technology transfer under the vaccines for peace programme, Erhard Geissler; introduction, biological defence R&D raises suspicion of possible offensive intentions, protection of civilians against dual-threat agents, vaccine R&D and production for military purposes need not necessarily be carried out by the military, the BWC lacks universal adherence, the BWC is not free of loopholes, scientific and technological developments, verification, prevention of proliferation vs. enhancement of co-operation, the technology gap between North and South increases, conversion of facilities involved in BW programmes, establishing the VFP programme, conclusions. Table 3.1 - dual-threat agents known to have caused natural outbreaks of disease, 1985-88 and Table 3.2 - putative anti-personnel biological warfare agents. Part 2 Strengthening the biological weapons convention: the missing link in implementation of the BWC - the war against pathogens, Felix C. Calderon - introduction, the rights of states parties, the review conferences, going forward in the war against pathogens; vaccines for peace - a political scientist's critique, Oliver Thranert - introduction, does VFP lead to universality and prevent proliferation?, is the threshold for VFP participation high enough?, biological defence and national sovereignty, problems of establishing VFP, conclusion; control and co-operation in biological defence research - national programmes and international accountability, Nicholas A. Sims - introduction, return to earlier proposals, international accountability through greater openness, international control, transparency mechanisms, demonstrating compliance, civil-military co-operation; verification of the BWC, Tibor Toth and Thomas Stock - introduction, Verex I, Verex II, lessons from the CWC negotiations (part contents).

Review :
`This book is a valuable account of the current state of the production of vaccines against human pathogens and toxins and the long-term strategy to make them available for civil use. It is a useful starting point to stimulate discussion with the most up-to-date, international information. It is vital, however, that the ideas from this study are heeded and drawn upon to enable further work to be carried out to assess the feasibility of the VEP programme.' International Peacekeeping