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January 31, 2003
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Health Care Leaders Voice Doubts on Smallpox Inoculations"
New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (01/30/03) P. A13; McNeil, Donald G. Jr.
Various public health officials are expressing doubts about President Bush's smallpox vaccination plan, with some refusing to participate and some saying that the administration has underestimated the cost of the plan. The program would vaccinate up to 500,000 health workers at first, then an additional 10 million people, including health workers and emergency response workers, all on a voluntary basis. The program's critics are most worried that vaccinated health workers could infect others or experience side effects, and that they might not be covered by workers' compensation. The old statistics on vaccination side effects and deaths may not apply, given that there are many more immunocompromised people now.
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MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.