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December 02, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Public Confidence in Vaccines at Risk"

USA Today (www.usatoday.com) (12/02/02) P. 8D; Manning, Anita

Some health experts are warning that the severe side effects caused by the smallpox vaccine could erode the public's confidence in other vaccines. The warning comes as the government considers a plan to administer the smallpox vaccine to hospital workers and other emergency personnel in case of a bioterrorism attack.  Experts like Joseph Bellanti--a professor of pediatrics and microbiology-immunology at Georgetown University Medical Center--said the medical community had to prevent this scenario from unfolding through several means, including education, informed consent, and better screening.  Although some people have raised the question of whether it is more dangerous to be vaccinated or whether they should risk not getting their shots and possibly contracting and spreading a disease to others, mainstream medical experts assert that vaccines are safe overall, producing few side effects while safeguarding children from deadly diseases.

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