6,000 in state to be 1st on list for smallpox vaccine

December 11, 2002

BY JAMIE GUMBRECHT
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER

Michigan officials are preparing to vaccinate about 6,000 health-care workers against smallpox as part of the nation's antiterrorism efforts, according to a plan submitted this week to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It remains unclear how soon the shots will begin, and officials released little information about which health-care workers would get them first.

Smallpox, a potentially fatal disease that causes a high fever and a bumpy, scarring rash, was considered eradicated worldwide in 1980. But fear of bio-terrorism following terrorist attacks and anthrax incidents in 2001 prompted the federal government to request the smallpox plans, which were due to the CDC, based in Atlanta, by Monday. Forty-four of 62 plans from states, territories and some cities were submitted by the deadline.

Michigan's plan divides the state into eight regions, each with at least one emergency response team and two health-care teams. Team members would be offered the shots because they would be among the first to have contact with victims of an outbreak. These team members are currently affiliated with about 30 hospitals and community health centers.

Geralyn Lasher, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Community Health, said the names and locations of the hospitals and health centers would not be released because the plans have not yet been approved by the CDC. She also cited security concerns. Lasher said no time frame for CDC approval of plans has been set.

"We wanted to ensure coverage in rural and urban areas," Lasher saidTuesday. "If smallpox were to be reintroduced, we wanted people that would come into contact with it initially to be first."

The Michigan plan calls for a second wave of vaccinations, shortly after the first, involving as many as hundreds of thousands of emergency workers -- such as police and fire personnel, Lasher said. Although no plans to inoculate the general public have been announced, the United States has stockpiled enough vaccine for an emergency, and more production is under way.

Dr. Thomas Petinga, a medical director for the region including Oakland, Macomb and St. Clair counties, said the vaccinations are voluntary for institutions and individuals. He also declined to name any of the hospitals that may take part in the program before it's officially launched, probably by President George W. Bush.

"We've been working on this process for weeks and months with public health authorities," Petinga said. "Now the process is accelerating as it starts to unfold."

In the past, about 0.001 percent of every 1 million people vaccinated for the first time had some kind of serious reaction. Between 14 and 52 people out of 1 million vaccinated for the first time had a life-threatening reaction. The anthrax vaccination, which is offered to high-risk populations such as military personnel, causes a severe reaction in about 0.2 percent of recipients.

People who should not have the vaccine include: pregnant women; people with eczema, atopic dermatitis or a history of either; people being treated for cancer; people who are HIV-positive; people who have had an organ transplant; people who have an allergy to the vaccine or its ingredients; people who have moderate or severe short-term illnesses, and people who are younger than 18. People also should not get the shot if they live with others with these conditions because the live virus in the vaccination can spread through close contact.

Contact JAMIE GUMBRECHT at 313-222-6609 or gumbrecht@freepress.com. Staff writer John Masson and the Associated Press contributed to this report.