“…Since oxidative stress can promote autoimmunity, it is also possible that vaccines, particularly in settings where they produce AEs via a prooxidant effect (e.g., via adjuvant effects), might promote chronic symptoms through autoimmune mechanisms [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ]: autoimmune markers are also elevated in GWI [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 ]. Autoimmune effects have been reported with the reactogenic anthrax vaccine [ 80 , 81 ]. Additionally, in one analysis, female veterans (not confined to the Gulf) who received the anthrax vaccine had elevated rates of MS (RR = 2.14, 95%CI: 1.14, 4.01) [ 82 ].…”