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File: 970207_aadbb_001.txtSUBJECT : BACKGROUND PAPER ON PROPOSED ANTHRAX VACCINATION/ANTIBIOTICS DESCRIPTION: THIS PAPER RECOMMENDS HOW TO PROVIDE ANTHRAX IMMUNIZATIONS AND ANTIBIOTICS TO CENTAF PERSONNEL AS PART OF AN INTEGRATED BIOLOGICAL WARFARE DEFENSE PLAN. BACKGROUND PAPER PROPOSED ANTHRAX VACCINATION/ANTIBIOTICS PLAN SUBJECT Purpose of this paper is to recommend how to provide anthrax immunizations and antibiotics to CENTAF personnel as part of an integrated biological warfare (BOO) defense plan. The final determination of priorities and implementation methods is a CINCCENT prerogative. DISCUSSION A timely decision to vaccinate and establish vaccination priorities is critical to provide protection by mid-Jan 91. The UK is implementing its own BW protection plan and has informally offered its excess vaccine to the US. The persistency and wide area coverage possible with anthrax make it the most significant threat to CENTAF forces. Iraq's likely delivery means for anthrax are spray tanks, bombs, SRBM, And Iraqi agents. A preemptive Iraqi BW attack is improbable. Anthrax use on the tactical battlefield is also unlikely because of its delayed effects-and possible impact on Iraqi troops. Due to its intelli- gence limitations, Iraq would probably employ anthrax against large, fixed targets. Because effects usually do not show for 1 - 6 days, anthrax is most militarily useful against rear area targets supporting combat operations. The best protection against BW is a combination of vaccina- tion prior to exposure and use of antibiotics before onset of symptoms. The preferred post-exposure treatment for those not vaccinated is, in order of priority: 1-antibiotics plus vaccina- tion; 2-antibiotics alone; 3-vaccination alone. Other facets of the BW defense plan include: enhanced detection, warning and reporting; effective use of protective masks; and, heightened CENTAF awareness. The Army is leading the effort to field early warning and point detectors to fill current void. The CENTCOM/CENTAF warning and reporting system is in place. [(b)(1)sec 3.4(b)(5)]
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