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October 9, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Doctors Urge Caution on Smallpox Vaccinations"

New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (10/08/02) P. A16; Grady, Denise

The American Medical Association (AMA) said Monday that it supports federal guidelines on smallpox vaccination that were issued in June.  Under those recommendations, health care workers would be vaccinated and "ring vaccination" would be used in the event of an outbreak.  The AMA noted, "The need for further voluntary vaccination beyond front-line health care workers is a very complex issue," saying the potential risk of a bioterrorist attack with smallpox had to be weighed against the risks of mass vaccination.  The AMA also questioned who would accept "the responsibility for injuries and deaths" associated with mass vaccination.  The American Academy of Pediatrics has also said it supports ring vaccination if an attack occurs, and it expressed concern that the smallpox vaccine now being used has not been tested in children.

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