Resource Centers
JERUSALEM (Reuters) Dec 19 - Israel's smallpox vaccination of 15,000 emergency workers in preparation for a possible US-led war on Iraq caused few side effects, a Health Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
Four people were hospitalized as a result of the vaccination drive, according to spokesman Ido Hadari.
These included the child of one worker and the spouse of another, who had come into contact with their family member's vaccine site, causing blisters and a mild fever. The other two were treated for minor side effects.
Hadari said Israel was sharing its results with the US which vaccinated 100 military medics on Wednesday in the first wave of a program to immunize millions of troops and emergency workers who could be called to respond to any smallpox attack.
Washington launched the drive amid concern some terror organizations may have developed smallpox into biological weapons.
Israel and the US also fear Baghdad may have developed smallpox as a weapon. Israel is preparing for possible Iraqi missile attacks should the US launch an offensive against Baghdad.
Babies born in Israel were inoculated with the smallpox vaccine up until 1980, and all Israeli military conscripts were vaccinated until 1996.
"You can expect that one case out of a million that gets the vaccination might die. In a population that has been vaccinated in the past, we can say there will be only one death for every two to four million," Hadari said.
Israel has stockpiled enough doses of smallpox to vaccinate its entire population of six million. Hadari declined to say when the rest of the population might be vaccinated.
Iraq fired 39 Scud missiles at Israel in retaliation for US-led air attacks during the 1991 Gulf War.
The missiles were armed with conventional warheads but some Israelis fear Saddam Hussein may arm Scuds with chemical or biological warheads if he believes the US is on the verge of ousting him.
Reuters Health Information 2002. © 2002 Reuters Ltd.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
|
|
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.