Vaccine Use in the Gulf War: Shortfalls Identified, Improvements Needed

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All Gulf War vets and service members who believe they have been harmed by

vaccines should review this web site...

http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/va/

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> = N E W S R E L E A S E

> =

> = OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

> = (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

> = WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301

> =

> = PLEASE NOTE DATE

> ====================================================

>

> No. 752-00

> (703)695-0192(media)

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

> December 19, 2000

> (703)697-5737(public/industry)

> VACCINE USE IN THE GULF WAR: SHORTFALLS IDENTIFIED, IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED

> The Department of Defense released today an information paper detailing

vaccine administration during the Gulf War. Since the return of

approximately 697,000 Gulf War veterans, a number of veterans have expressed

concern that their health may have been adversely affected by vaccines. The

information paper, the 10th published by the Office of the Special Assistant

for Gulf War Illnesses, provides information for veterans and other

concerned individuals about vaccines, their use by the military, and issues

arising from the administration of biological warfare vaccines in the Gulf

War. This paper complements a recent report from the Institute of Medicine

that evaluates the published scientific research on the health effects of

specific vaccines used during the Gulf War.

> During the Gulf War, vaccines - including two non-traditional vaccines,

anthrax and botulinum toxoid - were identified for administration in

response to the infectious disease and biological warfare agent threat. The

decisions to select and use these specific vaccines were based on

assessments of the infectious diseases and biological warfare agents that

servicemembers were likely to encounter during the deployment. The low

number of reported casualties from infectious diseases is due in part to the

vaccines given to servicemembers before and during the deployment.

> The report notes that administration of the biological warfare agent

vaccines was characterized by several difficult issues, including a shortage

of available quantities of vaccines to protect all servicemembers at risk,

prioritizing military units for vaccination based on the available vaccines

and anticipated threat, and ensuring servicemembers had the information

needed about the vaccines. Operational security concerns prevented many

servicemembers from receiving important information about the vaccines, why

they were being administered and possible side effects. Confusion about

whether the vaccines were mandatory or voluntary and the uncertain guidance

as to how and where vaccinations would be documented further contributed to

servicemembers' concerns about taking these vaccines. Today, this lack of

documentation complicates research on possible connections between vaccines

and the unexplained illnesses of some Gulf War veterans.

> Military personnel increasingly face routine deployments overseas and

confront exposures to environmentally hazardous battlefields and risks

associated with biological warfare agents, the report says. Vaccines are an

integral part of DoD's new strategy of force health protection. The Gulf

War experience has brought to light some shortfalls in vaccine

administration and generated improvements in force health protection.

> The report's observations have been forwarded to the special assistant's

Lessons Learned Implementation Directorate for coordination with applicable

offices within the military departments to help ensure that identified

issues are appropriately addressed.

> Information papers are reports of what the Defense Department knows today

about military procedures and equipment used during the Gulf War. This

release is intended to provide a basic understanding of vaccine

administration. Although not an investigative report, the report will be

updated if additional information becomes available. Gulf War veterans who

have records, photographs, and recollections or find errors in the details

of the report are asked to contact the office at (800) 497-6261.

> This report is posted on DoD's website GulfLINK at

http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/va

Other publications of the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War

Illnesses are also listed at: http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/

> -END-

>