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January 15, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Reporters Are Offered Vaccines"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (01/15/03) P. A12

To help protect them from any potential bioterrorism, reporters who are selected to travel with American forces in any war with Iraq will be offered shots against smallpox and anthrax, according to the Defense Department.  On the order of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, thousands of U.S. troops who might be involved in high-threat areas of the world in the war on terrorism are receiving smallpox and anthrax shots; the shots are required, unless there is an individual health risk.  The shots for journalists will be voluntary, Pentagon officials said.

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