Three-fifths of Americans said they would want a smallpox vaccination if it were available, despite health risks that include potential death, according to a recent Associated Press poll.  A majority, 53 percent, said they were worried terrorists would use the smallpox virus in future attacks on the United States.

Half of the people polled said the way U.S. authorities handled the recent anthrax cases had not affected their confidence in the government’s ability to protect citizens from terrorist attacks.  Slightly over a quarter said the government’s actions had increased their confidence, and about one-fifth said they were less confident.  Americans were almost equally split on whether the anthrax cases indicated the beginning of a sustained biological terrorist campaign involving anthrax (Associated Press/Washington Times, Nov. 19).

Smallpox Vaccine Contracts

Meanwhile, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is expected to announce this week which companies will receive government contracts to produce enough smallpox vaccine for the entire U.S. population (see GSN, Nov. 9).  Two British companies, GlaxoSmithKline and Acambis, are expected to be major contract recipients, according to the London Times, which added that the U.S. company Home Products could also win a contract (Mark Court, London Times, Nov. 19).

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