More than a decade after the first Gulf War, many sick veterans are still looking for answers on whether their mandatory anthrax vaccinations contributed to their so-called "Gulf War" illnesses.
A new documentary on this controversy, "Direct Order," was screened at the Salt Lake City Library this past week by the Salt Lake City Film Center. A panel discussion with the film's director, Scott Miller, and others followed before an audience of about 50 people.
"The film speaks for itself," Miller said, explaining that very few people seem to move during showings of the 58-minute film, and he considers that a compliment — that they are absorbed by the very emotional documentary.
He's ultimately hoping "Direct Order," narrated by actor Michael Douglas, will inspire the audience to seek out their congressional representatives for answers on the issue.
Miller said he's had no success with getting the film on PBS or other major networks. He believes that's because they don't want to offend anyone with it. As such, he's now working on a docu-drama on the anthrax vaccinations subject, a film that will be less emotional and hopefully gain more widespread showings.
His film has already been shown at many film festivals, including the Seattle Film Festival, Hawaii Film Festival and others. It has won awards at nine such festivals to date.
John A. Richardson, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force Reserve and a panel member, said some 150,000 military personnel in the first Gulf War received anthrax immunizations in the early 1990s. Then, there was a hiatus on its use until 1998. As many as 400,000 members of the military have received it in the past year.
Ret. Air Force Lt. Col. Russell E. Dingle said there isn't a 100 percent correlation between the vaccine and Gulf War illness.
"It's something that's really difficult to assess," he said. "There are so many factors." Among them are multiple other vaccinations that may have been given at the same time. Dingle also appears in the film.
Miller said affected military personnel he's talked to definitely believe the vaccination was the cause. However, military experts quoted in the film maintain the vaccine has been proven safe.
Richardson said the vaccinations are still mandatoryy. The latest court-martial for someone who refused such a vaccination was less than four weeks ago.
Miller said as many as 1,200 such vaccinations may be given every day. A key issue is that a congressional or presidential order is supposed to be required for these vaccinations to be mandatory. However, that's never been issued.
One of the people interviewed in the film said the vaccinations are a different kind of "friendly fire." He would have rather been shot by a bullet than a needle.
None of the panelists believe the general public will likely ever be forced to have the vaccinations because anthrax is not contagious.
For more information on "Direct Order" and the Gulf War illness, go online to www.directorder.org.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com