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.

------------------------------------------------------------

December 11, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"States Preparing Plans to Offer Smallpox Vaccinations" Associated Press (www.ap.org) (12/10/02); Meckler, Laura

States were supposed to present to the White House by Monday their plans to inoculate the emergency workers who are most likely to encounter a patient infected with smallpox in case of a bioterrorist attack, as President Bush is expected to give the go-ahead to vaccinating as many as 500,000 people nationwide later this week.  States will have 30 days to implement their plans once the green light is given, but an Associated Press survey shows that states varied widely in the amount of vaccines requested and the numbers of hospitals expected to participate.  For example, while Louisiana requested 20,000 doses of smallpox vaccine, Georgia only plans to vaccinate up to 500 individuals, and twice as many hospitals in Montana as in Michigan are expected to participate.  A second stage of vaccinations will cover as many as 10 million other first responders, as federal and state leaders organize a campaign to educate the public about the risks and benefits of the vaccines.

Vaccination News Home Page

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.