It is not known whether the anthrax vaccine can cause fetal harm, and pregnant women should not be vaccinated. Annual booster injections of the vaccine are required to maintain a protective level of immunity. Anthrax and Biological Warfare U.S. military forces have been vaccinated recently against anthrax, reflecting the concern about the prospect of anthrax spores being used in defense against them. Iraq, Russia and as many as ten nations have the capability to load spores of B. anthracis into weapons. The spores of B. anthracis can be produced and stored in a dry form and remain viable for decades in storage or after release.
Anthrax spores are apparently one of the top choices of weapons for biological warfare.
The following is an excerpt from the U.S. Navy Manual on Operational Medicine and Fleet Support, entitled Biological Warfare Defense Information Sheet . The disease Anthrax is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis . Anthrax is normally found in sheep, cattle and horses but can be transmitted to humans who contact infected animals or their products. Usually humans acquire the disease by skin contact with the bacteria or by inhaling the bacterial spores found in sheep wool. As such, the symptoms of Anthrax encountered in BW would follow those expected for inhalation of spores, as opposed to those expected for skin contact or ingestion of the bacteria.