Problems Surface in US Plan to Vaccinate for Smallpox

Following an announcement by the US government that voluntary vaccinations of health care workers against smallpox would begin this month, concerns and objections are arising from many of those scheduled for inoculation.

The first phase of the vaccination program calls for up to 500,000 health care workers to be vaccinated in the coming weeks. A later, second phase would include first responders such as police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. However, many of those scheduled to be vaccinated have refused and many health care workers are voicing concerns and questions.

One concern is the safety of the vaccine. When the vaccine was last used in the 1960s, there were two deaths and 52 life-threatening complications for every million people who were vaccinated. The vaccine employs the vaccinia virus, which is related to smallpox. There is a possibility that the virus may shed from the site of inoculation and infect others. This could be dangerous to those who are especially vulnerable, such as babies and people who have compromised immune systems. One important question raised is if a vaccinated health care worker has a bad reaction and cannot work for a number of days, who will pay for that time? Still another problem is the cost of the program. Many healthcare workers say the government is seriously underestimating the costs of the program, which also have to include training, screening out people at risk, following up on people with bad reactions, and managing the data from the program.

As a result, many of the hospitals and medical centers that had scheduled vaccinations are now reporting they are delaying any further involvement in the program until they have more information and can answer everyone's concerns.

"At this time, our highest priority is to vaccinate members of smallpox response teams in the states,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDA, Atlanta, GA, USA). "Several months of detailed planning and training, and the development of scientifically sound and informative educational materials have prepared us for the safe and rapid implementation of the plan to vaccinate those health care professionals who would be on the front lines in the event of a smallpox attack.”




Related Links:
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)