Millions of U.S. residents who were immunized against smallpox before 1972 might still be immune to the disease, according to a study published yesterday (see GSN, Aug. 13).

“This puts us ahead of the curve.  Instead of having a population that is fully susceptible to a smallpox outbreak, this suggests we have some degree of ‘herd immunity,’” said Mark Slifka, an immunologist at Oregon Health & Science University.  Slifka led the study, which was published online by Nature Medicine.

Researchers studied more than 100 people immunized more than 30 years ago, when the smallpox vaccination was routine.  U.S. health officials have been trying in vain to organize a massive immunization program to defend emergency responders against a biological terrorism attack using smallpox.  That program has mostly faltered, but the new evidence suggests that the U.S. population might not be as susceptible as was previously thought.

U.S. officials said recently, however, that the new study will not alter their approach.

“I don’t think this study impacts on what optimal protection is,” said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  “If you want to optimally protect, a person needs to be vaccinated within a relatively recent time frame,” he added (David Brown, Washington Post, Aug. 18).

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