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January 06, 2003

Note to Readers: NNii has now posted "Detailed information about smallpox, Common questions about smallpox and smallpox vaccine for the general public, and Common questions on smallpox and smallpox vaccine for health care professionals" on its Web site, http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Health Officials Fear Local Impact of Smallpox Plan"

New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (01/05/03) P. 1; Altman, Lawrence K.; O'Connor, Anahad

Services including cancer and tuberculosis screening and children's dental examinations may have to be curtailed in order to meet the needs of the Bush administration's smallpox immunization plan, according to some local health departments across the United States.  Health officials note that much of the funds that Congress allocated for bioterrorism preparedness last May were used to respond to anthrax threats in 2001.  The smallpox vaccination plan calls for the vaccine to be administered to health care workers voluntarily under a two-phase program by local healthcare centers. Beginning this month, up to 500,000 civilian health care and emergency workers will be immunized, while in the second phase, up to 10 million health care workers, police officers, firefighters, and EMTs will be offered the smallpox vaccine.  Dr. Ed Thompson, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new deputy director for public health program and services, noted that "it's going to cause some delays and slow the progress of other public health programs, but it's something we're just going to have to realize--that there's going to be sacrifices."  The CDC hopes to alleviate some of the difficulties faced by local health departments by providing guidelines on clinic management and, in some cases, additional workers.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND 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.