HealthBeat: CDC Comments on Smallpox Program

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The smallpox vaccine may not be made available to fire, police and emergency medical personnel as originally planned. Jaine Andrews explains why in tonight's HealthBeat.

A Centers for Disease Control advisory committee says there are too many health risks to people with heart conditions to allow the national smallpox vaccination program to be expanded. The panel has stopped short of saying the vaccination should be stopped altogether, however.

More than 37-thousand healthcare workers and public health officials have received the vaccine on a voluntary basis since January. At least two people with heart problems died after being inoculated and six others had heart attacks. Several other cases of heart problems have been reported among people shortly after their received the shot.

The recommendation is not binding, the department of Health and Human Services will make the final decision whether to go ahead with the expansion as planned.
For More Information on the Panel's recommendation, Click Here

Jaine Andrews
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