Anthrax vaccine gets cold shoulder from troops

The recent war in Iraq taught the British military that vaccination against anthrax is a tough sell. More than half of British personnel sent to the Persian Gulf refused the vaccine, even though military leaders strongly recommended it because the Iraqis were suspected to have an arsenal of biological weapons.

Their reluctance likely stemmed from fears generated by the “Gulf War syndrome” that emerged a decade earlier. At the time, some military personnel linked vaccines to the mysterious disorder. Vaccination against anthrax is voluntary, and a Ministry of Defence spokesperson said there are no plans to make it compulsory.

Dr. Phil Luton of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research at Porton Down, UK — it makes the vaccine for the military — is confident of its safety: “The vaccine has been licensed since 1979 and [we test it] thoroughly for safety and efficacy.” It is also tested independently before being released.

Luton said no serious side effects have been reported. “Reactions are uncommon but occasionally a mild rash or swelling at the site of injection or even at the site of an earlier injection may occur, and last for a couple of days. More rarely, swollen glands, mild fever, flu-like symptoms, rash, itching or other allergic reactions may occur. The occurrence of a reaction after a first injection of the vaccine does not necessarily indicate a predisposition to subsequent reactions on further injections. This is based on approximately 40 years of experience with the vaccine.”

The safety of the vaccine has also been confirmed in an independent study of Royal Air Force personnel published in March (Vaccine 2003;21:1348-54).

A Canadian Forces spokesperson said that if the threat level for biological weapons is considered high, the chief of defence staff can order mandatory vaccinations for all personnel being deployed. However, she said this did not happen for Canadian sailors currently deployed in the Persian Gulf. — Cathel Kerr, Fife, Scotland