About 100,000 troops deployed to high-risk areas, including the Persian Gulf and South Korea, will be inoculated first. By 2005 all 2.4 million U.S. military personnel including Guard and Reserve will be immunized. Anthrax spores were recovered in Iraq by inspectors of the United Nations Special Commission. According to U.N. officials, Iraq is suspected of still having 2,000 gallons of anthrax and the munitions to deliver it.
Inhalation anthrax is nearly always fatal.
Air Force Surgeon General officials said the vaccine contains no live bacteria and is safe. Jim Laub, chief of operational medicine for the Air Force Medical Operations Agency.