European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday August 29, 1990 the stars and strikes a ppm crisis in the Gulf vaccine Supply but troops by Chuck v1nch Washington Bureau Washington a the army and Navy have run Low on the meningitis vaccine normally required for military personnel going to the Middle Hast. But officials in both services say there should be sufficient stocks in local medical facilities to ensure that everyone who needs a shot gets one before going to the persian Gulf. Meningitis a disease that attacks the brain and spinal Cord and can be fatal flared into epidemic proportions in some regions of saudi Arabia As recently As 1987, according to the centers for disease control in Atlanta a a yes there is a Supply crunch a said Pete Esker a spokesman for the army surgeon general. The army health services come can meet immediate demand by shifting available stocks to facilities where they Are needed most Esker said. Quot its not a critical situation but we have stepped up our orders from the manufacturer a he said. Connaught laboratories of Swiftwater pa., is the Only supplier of the vaccine for the defense department. More than 100 employees Are working overtime to fill military orders said spokeswoman Sheila Fagan. The defense department usually orders about 4,300 vials of the vaccine which is marketed under the name me nem unc every three months. Each vial holds enough vaccine for 50 doses. A the military ordered 6,800 vials last week a Fagan said. A partial Mcne Mune shipment will be sent out next week with the rest due for delivery the third week of september said Lorraine Netzel a spokeswoman for the defense personnel support Center in Philadelphia. The Navy is out of Stock at the higher Supply Levels although some quantities of the vaccine should be available locally said it Joy Hopkins a spokeswoman for the Navy medical come. The command which also handles immunizations for the Marine corps has authorized subordinate elements to Purchase additional supplies directly from Connaught Hopkins said. A but we done to think that will be necessary a she said. A a we re not looking at this As a  the Navy does t routinely admin Istir the meningitis vaccine except for personnel who expect to Tomc in close Contact with Middle easterners. Close Contact is defined As sharing quarters or an office for extended periods she said. A that will rarely be the Case in this situation for the Navy a which will keep most of its personnel aboard ships Hopkins said. A a Well probably have a number of people who deploy without getting the  but Marine corps ground units will receive shots As needed Hopkins said. The air Force which is deploying fewer personnel than the other services docs not have vaccine shortages and will also give Menehune shots to everyone who needs them said Patty Turner a spokeswoman for the air Force surgeon general. The vaccine prevents four types of the disease including one known As group a meningitis said or. Anne Schuchat a medical epidemiologist with the cd. That Strain of the disease reached epidemic proportions in saudi Arabia during the annual pilgrimage to the moslem holy shrine at Mecca in 1987, Schuchat said. A since then it has been recommended that everyone travelling to the persian Gulf get a Beningo Coucal vaccination Quot she said. A the risk for . Forces in saudi Arabia at this time of year is hard to say Quot she said. A generally i think there arc other health risks that would be More important to worry about in the Short term like heal injuries for  taking a break a Pilot. Is members of the . Military take under a camouflaged canopy in the time out from their duties during och saudi desert. After a 12-hour shift air ration desert shield the . Re Force munitions specialists below spouse to iraqis invasion of Kuwait a play checkers with plastic missile Caps Serviceman above checks his weapon at saudi Arabia s Dhahran  in w. Germany wait wonder and worry by John Millar Wurzburg Bureau a handful of people standing outside a bar froze As two soldiers wearing their Green camouflage uniforms arrived. A any news a friends of the soldiers asked. A no nothing yet a one replied. The Battle dressed men did no to Stop at the bar to drink. They weren to allowed to. One said they were on a Quot stress Relief  but their mood and that of their friends said they had stopped by their favorite watering Hole for what might be the last time. The service members who Arentt being identified for Security reasons arc like Many pilots soldiers and families stationed in West Germany who Are playing a waiting game a waiting to find out whether the persian Gulf crisis w ill reach them. Emotions and uncertainty started running High in the service members town on a Friday afternoon nearly two weeks after iraqi president Saddam Hussein a forces invaded Kuwait on aug 2. Many had left the nearby Airfield for the weekend but were quickly recalled to the base. Quot the whole Post was packing and scrambling. Eve body was packed up and ready Quot said one helicopter a Pilot. Since then troops have had to a stand by for the news a he said. A . Civilian working for a company that repairs High tech helicopter systems said at least one unit was locked in and ready to go for seven Days. Another unit was set to leave for four Days. He said personnel were allowed to go Home but had to be Able to be reached by phone and  drink any alcohol a it was hectic. Everybody was really primed Quot the technician said. Then the alerts were cancelled and Quot it was like a letdown because they were hyped a he said. Other alerts have followed but no deployment to the persian Gulf. In the meantime officers and troops have received vaccinations and put their personal affairs in order the technician said. With the uncertainly and waiting have come rumours. That first weekend for example Rumor had it that some soldiers were leaving As Early As sunday others would be on their Way to the Middle East no later than tuesday. Quot one minute they Tell us yeah in 24 hours we re out of Here a a one Pilot said. Quot the next Day we re on standby for standby. I can to Lake a pass. 1 can to take leave or  the Pilot said the Prospect of deploy ing to saudi Arabia did no to worry him. Quot it does no thug me because in a still under the impression that we re coming  it things Are different for wives of the aviators who As one wife Pul it have treated every meat and embrace As if it were the last. A a in be gone through the last meal every night for the past two weeks Quot she said. Quot you go two weeks and you done to know what s going on from one moment to the other. It gels on your nerves a she said. Her emotions run from Pride to anxiety to fear. Quot on one hand id say he ought to  be proud that head be a part of it. On the other hand in a worried to death that head go and not Tome  word of the possible deployment came As a Shock to the bar owner who has he friended Many of the men and women at the Airfield liver body had an idea it was coming Down but they did no to figure u was Corning out of this area a he said. The bar owner said he feuds not for his business but for the people at the Airfield. Quot hell everybody there is our Friend Quot be said