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Smallpox: Lawmakers Say Health Care Workers Need Vaccine Protection U.S. Senate leaders said yesterday that legislation is needed for health care workers who experience adverse reactions from the smallpox vaccine, States News Service reported yesterday (see GSN, Jan. 27). “We haven’t got all of our ducks in a row; that’s obvious,” said Senator Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. A new system should be created to compensate workers who are sickened by the vaccine, Gregg said. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) indicated he would support legislation to address the concerns of health care workers and vaccine producers. “What kind of risks are we asking of people?” asked Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). “Most private insurers will not compensate health care workers for adverse reactions to vaccination,” he added (Jim Geraghty, States News Service/Boston Globe, Jan. 31). Meanwhile Washington, D.C., officials said local immunization efforts have drawn to a standstill over liability and compensation concerns, the Washington Afro-American reported today. Several other local jurisdictions nationwide have halted smallpox vaccination campaigns over the same concerns, according to Briant Coleman, a city public information officer. Further delaying immunizations in Washington is a lack of vaccine. The city has not yet received its vaccine supply from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Michael Richardson, the city Health Department’s senior deputy director. Planning is continuing nevertheless, Richardson said. “The Department of Health is currently conducting smallpox educational briefings and trainings for public health workers and hospital personnel who will participate in phase one of our clinics,” Richardson said. “Unlike some states across the country, we received tremendous support from our hospitals and public health personnel primarily because they understand our unique vulnerabilities as the nation’s capital,” he added (Valencia Mohammed, Washington Afro-American, Feb. 1). Two U.S. military personnel, meanwhile, have developed “significant adverse effects” to the smallpox vaccine, according to defense officials. One patient became ill last weekend and the other showed an adverse reaction Tuesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Grabenstein said Wednesday. The military will not release further information about the cases until a review is complete, Stars and Stripes reported. “We want the whole story correct the first time,” Grabenstein said. About 3,000 military medical personnel have received the immunization and 3 percent have missed at least one day of work or have reported side effects, Stars and Stripes reported (Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes, Jan. 30).
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