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October 18, 2002
U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Panel Leery of Mass Smallpox Doses"
Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (10/18/02) P. A2; Brown, David
General discussions with members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provides immunization advice to the federal government, found fewer supporters of making the smallpox vaccine available to the general public due to potential risks associated with the shot. Three top Health and Human Services Department officials announced a few weeks ago that the vaccine would likely become available to the public on a voluntary basis. The committee endorses vaccinating 500,000 health care workers in the United States against smallpox to prepare for a smallpox-related bioterrorism attack. The issue is that the vaccine causes an inflamed arm and fever in about 33 percent of recipients, and some recipients are at risk of death from infection following the shot. The committee believes a limited smallpox vaccination program could teach the government how to handle a larger vaccination program in the future, should the need arise.
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