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Why is this being done so hush-hush?

Will post the update when the story comes, Developing...

1 posted on 11/28/2001 10:36:48 AM PST by umbra
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To: umbra
For some reason, I am unfamiliar with this threat. Is this something that has some real basis in fact? Are we under a genuine smallpox threat? I sure would like to know why those in the know are getting the small pox vaccine lined up so rapidly. If it is purely precautionary, kudos. But I would like to know if it is MORE than precautionary, ie, a real threat exists. And from where?
2 posted on 11/28/2001 10:40:23 AM PST by Republic
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To: umbra
Over a month ago Tom ridge had said the USA would be purchasing more smallpox vacine with the goal of having 500 million doses available. If an out break occurs anywhere on the planet we would be providing vacine to stach the epidemic. There are approximnately 300 million Americans this policy does seem to be a good one IMHO.

Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

3 posted on 11/28/2001 10:42:33 AM PST by harpseal
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To: umbra
Why is this being done so hush-hush?

An article about it in a major news agency is not hush hush.

5 posted on 11/28/2001 10:47:29 AM PST by tallhappy
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To: umbra; Alamo-Girl
It's about time...

Say, Alamo-Girl: I forgot the NAME of the smallpox list here at FR, so that this article can be indexed there -- do you recall the name of it?

6 posted on 11/28/2001 10:48:24 AM PST by meridia
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To: umbra
Probably because of the panic. Even this post in "Breaking News" is going to send some Freepers off the deep end.

I see you're too new to have taken part in the Great Anthrax Panic here around October 8th. It was fueled by a few newbies (like you) who signed on October 4th and 5th, and were banned within a week.

10 posted on 11/28/2001 10:53:42 AM PST by elfman2
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To: umbra
hush hush??? It's been on FNC all day.
12 posted on 11/28/2001 10:57:57 AM PST by wewillnotfail
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To: umbra
Make it 499,999,999. I don't want one, thank you very much.

Will that be allowed? Or is it mandatory that everyone with a social security card get a shot.

16 posted on 11/28/2001 11:11:11 AM PST by Alas
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To: umbra
You can figure that either they know of a real threat or that they only want to be prepared if it were to happen...

Either way, it takes time to produce the vacine-enough of it to protect all of us...and once treated we are immune for up to 10 years...so why not go ahead and get it in place like we would any other system of defense?

To me, it sounds like a reasonable precaution that gives terrorists one less weapon to use against us.

I just hope they distribute tin hats along with it...that way i can be protected from all threats-those real and also those perceived...

21 posted on 11/28/2001 11:20:18 AM PST by Tarzantheape
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To: umbra
I'm gonna sleep a little better tonight. For victory & freedom!!!
26 posted on 11/28/2001 11:34:52 AM PST by Saundra Duffy
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To: umbra
and then it'' end up being ebola. The USA is starting to look like a giant Enron.
32 posted on 11/28/2001 11:43:30 AM PST by kingh99
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To: umbra
Earlier today:
Pro-Life Groups Upset Over Origin of Smallpox Vaccine

38 posted on 11/28/2001 11:52:47 AM PST by SlickWillard
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To: umbra
I just heard last night on Fox that the only people to be given access to the vaccine will be doctors, medical workers, police, firefighters, EMS and anyone who is believed to have been exposed to the virus. In the event of an outbreak, are the rest of us going to be given the vaccine?
48 posted on 11/28/2001 12:18:35 PM PST by stanz
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To: umbra
While I generally don´t count on the powers to be to have foresight and act offensively, hopefully this is the case here. Because, god forbid, there is a small pox attack we and we alone will be resposible to act, treat, contain, etc. the whole planet. As usual, we will have to meet the challenge alone-with the help of maybe the Brits.

And then after saving mankind expect to be hated and criticized some more.

54 posted on 11/28/2001 12:24:56 PM PST by riri
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To: umbra
Remember what Saddam did when we kicked him out of Kuwait. He isn't going to go quietly into the good night. We had better be prepared before we take him out.
55 posted on 11/28/2001 12:28:13 PM PST by Clinton's a rapist
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To: umbra
And Now, The Good News Regarding Smallpox
65 posted on 11/28/2001 12:43:23 PM PST by Harrison Bergeron
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To: umbra
Why are we buying 500 million doses when there are only 285 million people in the US? I hope we are not planning to subsidize vaccines to the rest of the world.
89 posted on 11/28/2001 4:25:20 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: umbra
Wednesday November 28 6:51 PM ET

Feds to Buy 155 Million Smallpox Vaccine Doses

By Lisa Richwine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government said Wednesday it ordered 155 million smallpox vaccine doses from Acambis Plc and Baxter International Inc. to place in a stockpile to defend against potential bioterror weapons.

The companies, working as a joint venture, will produce the shots for $428 million with delivery expected by early or late fall of next year, Health and Human Services (news - web sites) Secretary Tommy Thompson announced. The cost per dose is $2.76.

The supplies will help the government stockpile enough doses to immunize each American if needed against what experts call one of the most frightening biological agents, Thompson said.

The United States has a previous order from Acambis for 54 million doses and is testing whether it can dilute older vaccine stocks. Once completed, the nation's stockpile will include 286 million smallpox vaccine doses, Thompson said.

``We should, at this time next year, have enough vaccine in stock to protect all Americans,'' Thompson told reporters during a telephone briefing.

``We also hope that increasing our smallpox vaccine stockpile would serve as a deterrent to any individual terrorist who might be considering using smallpox as a weapon,'' he added.

U.S. health officials began accelerating efforts to prepare for a smallpox attack after the Sept. 11 hijacking attacks and amid five deaths from inhaled anthrax since early October.

Officials said they do not plan a mass immunization program at the present time but want to be prepared to minimize the spread if a smallpox outbreak occurs.

``The probability of an intentional release of the smallpox virus is low, but the risk does exist and we must be prepared,'' Thompson said.

Highly contagious, smallpox kills about 30 percent of its victims and leaves others disfigured. There is no effective treatment once someone falls ill, but giving a vaccine in the days immediately following exposure can prevent illness.

The illness was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980, marking one of the greatest successes in modern medicine. The United States and Russia keep the only official supplies of the smallpox virus, but experts fear other countries or groups may have access to the agent and could unleash it as a weapon.

Routine smallpox vaccination in the United States ended in 1972, and officials are hesitant to resume the immunizations because the shots have been linked to serious side effects, including deaths.

Experts believe immunity to smallpox likely has worn off for people vaccinated before 1972.

Scientists are testing 15.4 million doses they have held since 1983 to see whether they can dilute them to 77 million doses.

As the newer vaccine becomes available, officials would tap those supplies first before using the older version as a backup, said Dr. Donald Henderson, a top bioterrorism adviser to Thompson and the man who led the effort that wiped out smallpox.

Acambis, based in Cambridge, England, and Baxter, based in Deerfield, Illinois, beat out rival bids from drug giants GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Merck and Co Inc.

Under the arrangement, Baxter will produce bulk vaccine at a facility in Europe and Acambis will refine and process the material at a plant in Massachusetts, Acambis spokeswoman Lyndsay Wright said.

Clinical trials of the vaccine are scheduled to start early next year, Acambis said.


91 posted on 11/28/2001 4:48:43 PM PST by deport
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To: umbra
It appears that the government believes it to be very likely to occurr with all the preparations underway.

Looks like we need to lock down even more, place militia on standby!

Begin local organizational preparations for what if scenarios.
96 posted on 11/28/2001 7:25:41 PM PST by Soul Citizen
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To: umbra
I hope they test this vaccine. I can imagine the result if the vaccine itself was tainted.
102 posted on 11/29/2001 4:52:16 AM PST by Don Myers
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