[agarrett]

As to getting the shot, why would you want to? The risk is quite small, in fact at the present you have a greater chance of dying from the vaccination than from the an outbreak of smallpox.

  The risk of dying from natural spread of smallpox is indeed less than the chance of dying from the vaccination. Obviously, he's weighing the chance of a terrorist strike using the disease, in which case the odds change quite a bit. Ring vaccination, given modern travel speeds, is unlikely to work, as I understand it.

  However, I have to agree that there is a middle ground between banning the vaccine and a mass inoculation. Let people decide. Heck, if the government wants to encourage it, they can subsidize the price some, or not. Having a percentage of the population immune will actually bring benefits in slowing the transmission of the disease, thus benefitting everyone. And this way, each person gets to decide for themselves whether they think it's worth it.

Drew Garrett

[Black Agnes]

Choice. Great idea. Have you read your states model health emergency act? Check now, if you don't it may be too late. Forced innoculations and mass quarantines (in confined spaces no less...they must want lots of dead people) are only the beginning.

[realpatriot71]

Ring vaccination, given modern travel speeds, is unlikely to work, as I understand it.

I disagree when it comes to smallpox. The nature of the dz is such that those who come into contact with a contagious person have two weeks before they themselves become contagious. An announcement could be made and people who knew they were in contact with the contagious person could come to a hospital and get a vaccination.

[navyblue]

"The risk is quite small, in fact at the present you have a greater chance of dying from the vaccination than from the an outbreak of smallpox."

Where are you guys coming from with this? I was vaccinated before I began the 1st grade, I was vaccinated when I went into the Maritime Service, I was vaccinated when I went into the Navy and I was probably vaccinated at least a half dozen times in all my years of going to sea!

I have NEVER heard of anybody dying or even getting sick from this immuninization. The first time, you will get an itch at the site that will drive you nuts, but nothing more. After the first time, you get no reaction.

So where does this info come from that there is a risk of death from this?