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October 7, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Health Officials Back Offering Smallpox Shots to the Public" Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com) (10/07/02) P. A23; Lueck, Sarah

Federal health officials say that some 500,000 health care workers could be offered smallpox vaccinations as early as November, followed by up to 10 million emergency personnel. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Julie Gerberding says that after those at the greatest potential risk are vaccinated, "our thinking is in favor of making the vaccine available for the general public" sometime next year.  An official White House decision on the issue has not yet been announced, however.  The outlined scenario makes use only of vaccine licensed by the Food and Drug Administration; there is unlicensed vaccine available in case of emergency, and the White House could request that it be used otherwise.  According to Gerberding, the extent of serious complications from the vaccine will not be known until people are inoculated, but she said there could be 15 serious complications and up to two deaths per 1 million vaccinations.  The Defense Department has asked for enough vaccine from the national stockpile for 1 million soldiers, and the doses should be available by the beginning of next month.

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