Associated Press

State studies health risks of shots for emergency workers

CHATTANOOGA — The state has ''indefinitely postponed'' the second phase of its smallpox vaccination program to study health risks posed by the shots.

Almost 2,500 health-care workers were given the shots during the program's first phase, which was completed in the spring, said state Department of Health spokeswoman Diane Denton.

The second phase would have vaccinated emergency workers against smallpox — a serious, highly contagious and sometimes fatal infectious disease.

''We had a higher participation than a lot of other states,'' Denton told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. ''We have an adequate number to respond to take care of anyone and to vaccinate people.''

Tennessee ranks third behind Texas and Florida in the number of health-care workers who have received vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The state's decision follows a recommendation last week by the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

It advised the Bush administration to delay plans to offer the vaccinations to about 10 million emergency workers because of previously unknown and potentially dangerous cardiac side effects.