A Gulf War veteran is blaming mass vaccination for her chronic...

A Gulf War veteran is blaming mass vaccination for her chronic illnesses.

Former naval engineer Jody Parrish has congratulated 11 Australian sailors who have been sent home from the Middle East after refusing to have anthrax vaccinations.

Mrs Parrish, 31, was given several injections during the 1991 war and she says she now suffers from fatigue, memory loss, anxiety attacks, irritable bowel syndrome and skin irritations.

She says her 86 colleagues from HMAS Westralia are also ill.

"They are saying that a lot of the medication is quite safe but it's just too coincidental and too much of a proven fact that too many people are sick," she said.

"We've all pretty much got the same conditions, same illnesses and we all live in different states and we all served in the same war."
The Australian Navy has been accused of using standover tactics on sailors being sent home after refusing anthrax vaccinations.

Luis Lim says his step-daughter is one of the sailors sent home from the Persian Gulf for refusing the injections.

Mr Lim says the sailors are being treated terribly.

"The crew members who remained chastised them, accused them of being cowards," he said.

"The senior officers on the ship have told them that they are not welcome on the ship, not even to attend the ship's vale, and some other personnel have said that they should have their medals taken away from them for service that they've already participated in."