Posted on 10/22/2001 9:55:58 PM PDT by grimalkin
The Department of Health has confirmed the Federal Government is attempting to secure a supply of the smallpox vaccine from the United States.
The Commonwealth chief medical officer, Professor Dick Smallwood, says there is no vaccine in Australia at this time.
However, in the unlikely event of an outbreak, Professor Smallwood says supplies could be obtained within two days.
Australia's leading expert on smallpox Professor Frank Fenner, from the Australian National University, has welcomed moves to obtain the vaccine.
"I think it's a very good idea to have a stock of vaccine available for use if that unlikely event of the introduction of smallpox as a terrorist weapon occurs," Professor Fenner said.
But the overwhelming majority of the calls are 100% behind the US -- and some of the callers are good deal more belligerent than you'll even hear over here. The polls put support for Australia's involvement at between 70 and 90 percent.
You can get a some Oz talk-back shows on the Web, listen for yourself, especially if you can find a guy called Alan Jones or John Laws.
America has never lacked for a stauncher ally nor greater friend than Australia, which offered troops, ships and F-18s within HOURS of learning of the Sept. 11 attacks.
When you speak of Australia, you should temper your tone.
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