Role of vaccinations as risk factors for ill health in veterans of the Gulf war : cross sectional study

Shots in the desert and Gulf war syndrome

Vaccines have been implicated as a potential cause of ill health in veterans of the Gulf war. In order to protect against the threat of biological warfare, and against tropical and other infectious diseases, a vaccination programme was instated in UK service personnel in the months leading up to, and during, deployment. In this week's BMJ, Matthew Hotopf et al of the Gulf war Research Unit at Guy�s, King�s and St Thomas�s School of Medicine, King's College, London present the findings of their investigation into the relation between ill health after the Gulf war and vaccines received before or during the conflict.

An editorial by Dr Seif Shaheen questions the conclusiveness of the findings.

Please note that this paper, will be released at 10.30 am on Thursday 18 May 2000 at a press conference at BMA House, Tavistock Square, London WC1. The embargo for this paper and the accompanying editorial only will be lifted at 10.30 hours, Thursday 18 May to coincide with the press conference.

Contact :

Contact authors via Melanie Gardner in the King's College, London press office Email: [email protected]