Policy-makers have been debating how to respond to an
intentional release of smallpox in the United States. Halloran
et al. (p.
1428; see the
Perspective by Koopman) generated model communities of 2000
people, interacting within schools and neighborhoods. They looked
at the effects of targeted vaccination of those in close contact
with smallpox cases relative to mass vaccination carried out
before or after the release event. The presence of residual
immunity from prior vaccination increased the effectiveness of the
targeted strategy more than mass vaccination. Under all
strategies, targeted vaccination prevented more cases per dose of
vaccine than did mass vaccination.
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.
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