[samtheman]

The risk of a terrorist bio-attack using smallpox is an unknown quantity. Is there a large chance of it happening? A small chance? I feel confident in saying this: "There is at least some chance of such an event taking place."

The risk of serious side-effects of the vaccine are given at 1:300,000. That's pretty close to zero.

The odds of an attack are unknown, but conceivably way higher than 1:300,000.

I'll take my chances with the vaccine. Where do I go to get one? Who do I write my check out to?

For the record, I'd be willing to pay $100 for this shot. I'm sure it would be cheaper and I expect it to be cheaper. But my point is, if $100 was the going rate for an FDA-approved vaccine, I'd do it, for me and my wife.

How many others are there like me out there? I'll bet the number is larger than 1 in 300,000 Americans. Much larger. Maybe not willing to pay $100 (probably because they haven't taken the time to look at the photos of this disease), but willing to pay something.

Where are the entrepreneurs when we need them?

There's never a good pharmicist around when you need one!

[Jim Noble]

>>But my point is, if $100 was the going rate for an FDA-approved vaccine, I'd do it, for me and my wife<<

Under current FDA policies, adopted in the 1990s, there will never be an "FDA approved" smallpox vaccine.

My advice? :

Take it anyway.