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http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-smallpox0509.artmay09.story
Vaccinations To Continue
Few Getting Smallpox Shots
May 9, 2003
By WILLIAM HATHAWAY, Courant Staff
Writer
Connecticut health officials say they have no plans to
discontinue the smallpox vaccination program, even as safety questions arise and
the urgency of the program has diminished.
In January, Connecticut became the first state in the union to initiate the
vaccination program, with a goal of vaccinating about 6,000 health care workers.
As of last week only about 630 people in the state had been vaccinated, Bill
Gerrish, spokesman for the state Department of Public Health, said Thursday.
Nationally, about 35,000 people have been vaccinated, far less than an announced
goal of 450,000.
Gerrish said that at least some health care workers in most, if not all, state
hospitals have been vaccinated and that the state was ready to respond in case
of an emergency. A weekly clinic will open beginning May 16 to inoculate workers
who volunteer at mass vaccination clinics for the public in case of an attack
with smallpox.
The vaccination program was launched as the nation prepared for war with Iraq,
which some experts had suggested might have stocks of smallpox, a deadly viral
disease that was eradicated in nature more than 25 years ago.
However, many health care workers expressed concerns about the vaccine's safety.
Meanwhile, federal health officials now are investigating 11 cases of heart
inflammation among 325,000 military troops who were vaccinated.
The vaccination program was briefly suspended after five people nationwide
experienced heart problems after taking the shots, including two fatal heart
attacks. Now, health officials recommend that people with pre-existing heart
conditions not be vaccinated.
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.