JORDAN REQUESTS SLIGHTLY LARGER QUANTITIES OF

S E C R E T AMMAN 001192

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/27/2013
TAGS: TBIO PREL JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN REQUESTS SLIGHTLY LARGER QUANTITIES OF
SMALLPOX AND ANTHRAX VACCINES, AND ASKS FOR THE PRICE

REF: A. STATE 41006


B. AMMAN 1021

Classified By: PolCouns Doug Silliman for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (U) This is an action request for the Department. See
paras 4-5 below.

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GOJ WANTS VACCINES FOR CIVILIAN USE...
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2. (S) Following up on ref b demarches to the MFA and
Jordan Armed Forces (JAF),Ambassador on February 23 called
on Health Minister Walid Maani and reiterated the U.S. offer
to provide -- on a reimbursable basis -- limited quantities
of smallpox and anthrax vaccines to Jordan. Prime Minister
Ali Abul Ragheb called the Ambassador February 23 and noted
that the GOJ would like to acquire 1,000 doses of smallpox
vaccine and 3,000 doses of anthrax vaccine to for use for
civilian health and emergency workers in the eastern regions
of the country (nearest to the Iraqi border). The PM said
the GOJ would try to find the funds to pay for these
purchases, and asked for the cost of the vaccines.

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...AND FOR THE MILITARY AS WELL
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3. (S) Concurrently, senior JAF officers indicated to the
DATT that the JAF would like to get from the U.S. 9,000 doses
of anthrax vaccine and 15,000 doses of smallpox vaccine. The
JAF asked for the cost of the vaccines before deciding if
they would use ACSA or FMF to pay for the vaccines.

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ACTION REQUEST
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4. (S) The GOJ has indicated to us that it would like
access to a total of 12,000 doses of anthrax vaccine and
16,000 doses of smallpox vaccine -- somewhat more than
offered in ref a. Embassy therefore requests that the
Department consider increasing the amounts of anthrax and
smallpox vaccines offered to Jordan to accommodate the
requests for both civilian an military use (i.e. 12,000 doses
of anthrax vaccine and 16,000 doses of smallpox vaccine).


5. (S) In addition, the Embassy also requests that
Washington provide separately the cost for the vaccines
requested for civilian use and those requested for military
use.
GNEHM