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October 9, 2002
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS
"Plans Drawn Up for Mass Smallpox Vaccination: [British] Government" Associated Press (www.ap.org) (10/09/02)
British officials report that in case of bioterrorist attacks, the government is planning to vaccinate the entire population of the country against smallpox. According to Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer, key health care workers around Britain will be vaccinated against the disease so they can better respond to any outbreak. Donaldson told the British Broadcasting Corp. that in case of an outbreak, the people in that area would be offered smallpox shots; a mass vaccination program would only be considered if there were several outbreaks. Earlier this year, British officials ordered sufficient smallpox vaccine to protect 20 million individuals in case of a bioterror attack.
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LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
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