Anthrax Vaccination and Self-reported Symptoms, Functional Status, and Medical Conditions in the National Health Survey of Gulf War Era Veterans and Their Families

To e-aluarc the health status ofGulf War veterans who reported receipt of anthrax vccnation and a small group of Gulf War veterans for whom dcxllmentation of anthrax vaccinarion exists. Beginning in August 1990, US military personnel were deployed to the Gulf theater in response to Iraqs invasion of Kuwait. The Department of Defense DoD authorized the administration of vaccinations to thesc troops to protect against potential battlefield exposure to biological warfare agents, in particular, anthrax and botulism. Due to limited amounts of vaccine and vaccination protocols that called for multiple doses, not all service personnel received these vaccinations. DoD esimated that 150,000 US troops received at least one dose of the estimated 3 10,680 doses of anthrax vaccine sent to the Gulf heater and 8000 persons were vaccinated with hotulinum toxoid with nearly 138,000 doses sent to tlw Gulf theater 1, 2. Service personnel returning from the Gulf War have developed a variety of unexplained symptoms for which