Kate Thomas, a public health nurse in charge of vaccinations, said the delay can be attributed to vacations and scheduling conflicts, not any concerns related to three fatal heart attacks reported after the smallpox vaccine was administered in other states. The deaths caused several states, including California, to suspend the shots.

"It's not a result of the cardiac concerns or anything like that," she said Friday. "It's mostly what . . . staffing is available to do at that time."

State Health Director Diana Bonta called last week for local health departments to suspend inoculations until the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued directives for weeding out people with heart conditions.

The county completed its initial vaccinations of nearly 70 emergency workers before the state placed a hold on the shots, Thomas said.

More county employees as well as medical personnel at Mercy and Redding medical centers are expected to get shots in several weeks, she said.

So far, 31 Shasta County employees and 36 hospital personnel have been inoculated, Public Health Director Marta McKenzie said. The county had planned to do as many as 400 vaccinations in its first phase.

That phase is expected to continue in early May, but Thomas doesn't know how many more shots will be given. The county hasn't ordered more than the 200 doses it received in February, she said.

"San Francisco has only done 30 . . . and some of the larger counties don't plan on doing more than that," Thomas said. "So what was originally projected and what will come to fruition weren't exactly the same."

The Atlanta-based CDC advised that anyone who has suffered heart attacks, angina, congestive heart failure or other heart conditions should not be vaccinated.

In addition, anyone with three or more risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes should avoid the vaccine, CDC officials said. Smokers are also advised not to get the shot.

Health departments were already screening out cancer patients, organ transplant recipients, people with HIV, pregnant women and others with various health risks.

"The safety and well-being of smallpox vaccine recipients remains our top concern," Bonta said Thursday. "The additional information . . . will allow us to proceed with the smallpox vaccination program as safely as possible."

Two health care workers in Shasta County declined to be inoculated after the fatal heart attacks were reported, McKenzie said last week. However, workers here who have received the vaccine have reported minimal side effects, she said.

As of March 28, 1,282 Californians have been vaccinated for smallpox, including 197 in Los Angeles County, which has a separate vaccination program.

Reporter Tim Hearden can be reached at 225-8224 or at thearden@redding.com.

Saturday, April 5, 2003