Smallpox program falls short of goal, officials say

By CECI CONNOLLY
Washington Post

ATLANTA -- Four months after President Bush summoned millions of doctors, nurses, firefighters and police officers to form a nationwide network of smallpox response teams, officials running the immunization program concede it has fallen far short of expectations.

The campaign, portrayed as the centerpiece of the administration's efforts to protect against bioterrorism, has proven to be more expensive, less popular and medically riskier than initially thought, said experts in and out of government. And as a result of overly optimistic projections, tens of thousands of doses of the precious vaccine are in danger of spoiling if states cannot quickly recruit more volunteers.

The disappointing response, coupled with mounting doubts Iraq will launch a smallpox attack against the United States, have prompted a growing chorus of public health leaders to call for a halt.

"Everything should be on hold," said Frank Judson, director of Denver Public Health and a veteran of the smallpox global eradication campaign.

He and other critics warn that the overwhelming emphasis on smallpox has left the nation vulnerable to other weaponized germs such as anthrax and naturally occurring outbreaks such as the new severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

A smaller, but equally passionate, cadre of medical experts fear the slow pace of smallpox inoculations suggests a complacency that could have severe repercussions.

"The threat is definitely real. This is a dangerous time," said Daniel Lucey, director of the Center for Biologic Counterterrorism and Emerging Diseases at the Washington Hospital Center. He said it is crucial for health care workers to be immunized "for ourselves to be protected, and to then be able to take care of patients and contribute to a large-scale vaccination program."

Since Bush rolled up his sleeve to be among the first vaccinated, health professionals have debated whether the risk of a smallpox attack outweighs the known risks of what is described as the most dangerous vaccine in use today.