Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

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December 27, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Smallpox Plan May Force Other Health Cuts"

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (12/24/02) P. A1; Connolly, Ceci

Local and state officials say that the Bush administration's plan to vaccinate up to 10.5 million medical personnel and emergency responders against smallpox will cost up to $1 billion and will probably pull funds away from other public health efforts.  "States and localities already are diverting significant resources to smallpox vaccination and there is no end in sight," warns National Association of County and City Health Officials executive director Patrick Libbey.  The federal government has already spent over $862 million to purchase the vaccine, and earlier in the year the administration gave $918 million to state health departments for homeland security.  However, that money was given with no word about using it for smallpox vaccinations, notes Michael Richardson, acting health director for the District of Columbia; instead, it required changes like improving computer systems and adding hospital beds.  Health and Human Services spokesman Bill Pierce says he thinks Congress will approve another $940 million for states to use for their public health infrastructure. State officials note that vaccinating up to 10 million people will require training, screening, data collection, and other actions.  The Centers for Disease Control has begun suggesting that states take money from other anti-terrorism activities to use for smallpox vaccination, according to Nancy Ridley of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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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.