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To: My Identity
Why so much press in the US and the UK over smallpox vaccines?? This is way beyond standard security measures.

Because if terrorists were to launch a smallpox outbreak, the vaccine could mean the difference between life and death for thousands if not millions of people.

7 posted on 04/12/2002 10:56:48 AM PDT by tellw
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To: tellw
the vaccine could mean the difference between life and death for thousands if not millions of people.

Young people mainly.

Vaccinia vaccine is a highly effective immunizing agent that enabled the global eradication of smallpox. The last naturally occurring case of smallpox occurred in Somalia in 1977. In May 1980, the World Health Assembly certified that the world was free of naturally occurring smallpox (5). By the 1960s, because of vaccination programs and quarantine regulations, the risk for importation of smallpox into the United States had been reduced. As a result, recommendations for routine smallpox vaccination were rescinded in 1971 (6). In 1976, the recommendation for routine smallpox vaccination of health-care workers was also discontinued (7). In 1982, the only active licensed producer of vaccinia vaccine in the United States discontinued production for general use, and in 1983, distribution to the civilian population was discontinued (8). All military personnel continued to be vaccinated, but that practice ceased in 1990. Since January 1982, smallpox vaccination has not been required for international travelers, and International Certificates of Vaccination forms no longer include a space to record smallpox vaccination (9).

We require children to be vaccinated against chickenpox. A reversal of priorities.

11 posted on 04/12/2002 11:41:23 AM PDT by AndrewC
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To: tellw
Because if terrorists were to launch a smallpox outbreak

I realise, that. But the US and UK have not said anything about the bug being out in the "wild". Presumably the US stock is under very tight security. That implies that Putin told Bush that Russia couldn't guarantee the security of its stock. Perhaps even that Russia knew its security had been breached. Not to be alarmist, but the smallpox vaccine issue seems to have a very significant priority for the US/UK, exceeding that for Anthrax antibiotics, botulism, or any other bioagents. I'm not aware of any acquisition program in the 100 million dose range for any other vaccine, antibiotic, prophylactic, etc. Since smallpox is supposed to be the least accessible, the level of attention it gets is quite bothersome.
13 posted on 04/12/2002 12:15:31 PM PDT by My Identity
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