http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2002/05/31/eline/links/20020531elin034.html
CDC to host nationwide meetings on smallpox
Last Updated: 2002-05-31 17:00:50 -0400 (Reuters Health)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - As Americans grapple with fears of bioterrorism, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced four public meetings to provide information on smallpox and the smallpox vaccine.
The meetings will be held Thursday, June 6 in New York City and San Francisco; on Saturday, June 8 in St. Louis, Missouri; and on Tuesday, June 11 in San Antonio, Texas.
The CDC will also solicit comments from health professionals on the use of the vaccine. According to current policy, only a handful of people who work with the virus should be vaccinated preventively against smallpox.
However, recent fears about a bioterrorist attack have prompted federal officials to review the current policy. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices smallpox working group will present an updated set of recommendations at a meeting on June 19 and 20 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Last month, a CDC-commissioned survey revealed that doctors have limited knowledge about the potential dangers of smallpox vaccination, which can include encephalitis, infections, lesions at or away from the site of vaccination, and death in about 0.5 to 5 per 1 million people.
The last natural case of smallpox occurred in 1977, according to the CDC.
Addresses for the meetings are as follows. All will be held from 8 AM to 5 PM local time.
New York: Mt. Sinai Hospital, Stern Auditorium, One Gustave L. Levy Place.
San Francisco: San Francisco Marriott Downtown, 55 Fourth Street.
St. Louis: Renaissance Airport Hotel, 9801 Natural Bridge Road.
San Antonio: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 200 East Market Street.
Copyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. 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.