A large percentage of the U.S. population would not be able to take the smallpox vaccine because of a wide variety of medical conditions, in some cases due to ailments that occurred years ago, health experts said yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 8).

At least 20 percent — and possibly as many as 35 percent — of U.S. residents would increase their risk of severe side effects, and possibly death, by taking the vaccine.  The potential side effects headline a list of obstacles the vaccine faces, including the need for a national tracking system, liability issues for vaccine manufacturers and compensation payments for vaccine victims.

U.S. health officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and a high-level advisory panel have been engaged in a debate on the best approach to vaccinations.  The panel yesterday recommended inoculating as many as 500,000 hospital workers, far short of a government proposal to provide the vaccine to 10 million emergency responders.  Officials now worry that concern about side effects will make many hospital employees wary (see GSN, Oct. 17).

“If we really educate people about the risks, we may find people saying that they would rather wait and see,” said Guthrie Birkhead, of the New York state Department of Health.

The vaccine would not be safe for several groups of people, including pregnant women or those who plan to become pregnant soon, those with depressed immune systems, those infected with HIV or are living with someone who is, those with eczema or atopic dermatitis or live with someone who does, or those with psoriasis, shingles, severe acne or other breaks in their skin.

Some health experts said this list of medical conditions could involve 35 percent of the U.S. population or more (M.A.J. McKenna, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Oct. 18).

Meanwhile, the CDC announced yesterday that a network of experts would be put in place once the vaccine is distributed and would be available around the clock to consult on side effects.

Discussion will begin today with local and state health organizations to organize the monitoring system.  The plan calls for each hospital worker to receive an identification number and a network telephone number when they are inoculated.  Officials estimate that 35 percent of those vaccinated — 175,000 hospital workers — will call the hotline and about 17,500 will require further medical care (Lawrence Altman, New York Times, Oct. 18).

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP

Back to top