Environmental Exposures
Anthrax Vaccine
Anthrax vaccine was administered to about 150,000 troops in the theater, about 1/5 of those deployed. The FDA
approved, licensed vaccine, produced by the Michigan State Department of Public Health, has been used for over 30
years in civilian wool factory and laboratory workers. The vaccine's safety has been well documented in these
populations.
At issue is whether this vaccine is equally safe in the two-shot schedule given to Gulf War veterans. Although there
is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine causes health effects in a two-shot schedule when it does not in a larger
number of shots, this possibility cannot be considered ruled out. The Department of Defense will continue to monitor
recipients of the vaccine for health problems that might be due to the vaccine.
An Institute of Medicine (IOM) Committee on Health Effects Associated with Exposures During the Gulf War, released an
"Assessment of the Safety of the Anthrax Vaccine" in March 2000 that stated: "The committee concludes that in the
peer-reviewed literature there is inadequate/insufficient evidence to determine whether an association does nor does
not exist between anthrax vaccination and long-term adverse health outcomes."
Clinical significance: Current assessments suggest that the force protection afforded by the anthrax vaccination in
the event of a catastrophic anthrax attack will outweigh the relatively small possibility that mild or unusual
persistent adverse effects will occur. Clinicians should respect the fact that long-term health effects associated
with vaccination have not been completely ruled out when they see patients convinced that the vaccine is responsible
for a decline in their health.
