Big shot. President George W. Bush says he will get the vaccine against smallpox.
WASHINGTON, DC - After months of internal debate, President George W. Bush announced the details of its administration program to prepare today USA against a smallpox attack. About 450 000 health workers and others who may come into contact with the virus during an outbreak will be offered the vaccine between late January and the summer. Starting today, another half million in the army will get the plans on a mandatory basis.
Finally, up to 10 million police, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and other so-called first responders will be offered the vaccine as well. And although the Administration does not recommend that the general public to get the shots, it will make available to those who "insist" they get vaccinated and are not known to be at risk of complications. Some researchers question the plan, citing rare but serious side effects of the vaccine, which include death
All vaccination against smallpox in the civil US was discontinued in 1972. 8 years later, disease was officially declared eradicated. But the US government is concerned that terrorists or rogue nations could access illegal virus stocks. During his address, the president said twice no information that such an attack is imminent. "However, it is prudent to prepare for the possibility of terrorists ... who kill indiscriminately would use disease as a weapon," he said.
Because some troops would be needed to take the vaccine, Bush said the commander, it would also be vaccinated. But as they are not first responders or other members of the Bush family or the staff of the White House will get the shots at -he added.
the smallpox vaccine provides good protection against the disease, but it causes serious side effects in a small number of people and kills one or two in every million people vaccinated. accordingly, vaccination policy was the subject of intense debate. in October, the Advisory Committee on immunization practices (ACIP) recommended that, as long as no attack has taken place, only those directly involved in the response should receive the vaccine - a group thought to number about half a million. But he did not inform broadening the policy to all first responders, and recommended not to offer the vaccine to the public. But ACIP chair John Modlin said the policy of the Bush administration is also reasonable. "The president and his advisers have obviously another global perspective on it," Modlin said
But others argue that vaccination as a bad idea - especially to make it accessible to the public. Getting vaccinated "happens to be an extremely complex decision that requires a sophisticated understanding of smallpox," said Michael Lane, a former director of the smallpox eradication unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. "For put this burden on the American people is a mistake. "
Related Sites
remarks and background information of the President
CDC extensive site about smallpox and side effects of the vaccine
the Advisory Committee on immunization practices recommendations of
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