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August 23, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Germany Stockpiles Smallpox Vaccine as Terror Precaution"
Dow Jones Newswire Online (www.djnewswires.com) (08/21/02)
Germany's Defense Ministry announced that the German Army has ordered 1 million doses of smallpox vaccine as a precaution in case of a bioterrorist attack. In a statement, the ministry noted that it currently has no plans to immunize Germany's military personnel; however, it wants to have sufficient vaccine stockpiled to protect the entire army just in case. "The likelihood of an outbreak of a smallpox epidemic through using the virus as a biological weapon is considered very small," the ministry said, stressing that the stockpile was precautionary. Last November, Germany stockpiled 6 million doses of the smallpox vaccine for civilian use.
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