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June 12, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Canada to Buy Smallpox Vaccine for All"

Ottawa Citizen (www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen) (06/12/02) P. A1; MacLeod, Ian

Health Canada's Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response executive director Ron St. John says the Canadian government is currently in negotiations to purchase enough of the smallpox vaccine to immunize every man, woman, and child in the nation in the event of a bioterrorism attack.  The vaccine stockpile could cost about C$123 million.  A small number of laboratory technicians and health care workers will be vaccinated against smallpox so a response team will be able to deal with any suspected smallpox outbreaks, according to Health Canada.  If Canada is attacked using smallpox as a weapon, authorities will begin "ring" or "search-and-contain" smallpox vaccination, which will involve vaccinating all people who came in contact with the exposed individuals.  The vaccine can still prevent the disease if given four days after exposure, and if it is given later than that it will likely lessen the intensity of the disease.

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