Well, just think about it. Lots of reasons:
A person who gets the shot can unintentionally spread smallpox to others. It can be contagous for about two weeks.
The infected spot on a person's arm can cause blindness if just a little bit gets in the eyes.
Nasty side effects: Some people get severe organ damage, some people die from it.
It's an insurance nightmare that the government doesn't want to even think about.
Having the smallpox vacine available in large quantities also means that it could be more easily acquired by terrorists. They could experiment with it and come up with something even worse.
Yikes. No thanks, I think I'll pass on getting the shot unless I really, really need it.
I'll stop you right here. You are a victim of misinformation. The smallpox vaccine does NOT contain the smallpox virus, only a mild virus named vaccinia. This can be harmful to people with compromised immune systems, however, they had done tests and developed 100% effective bandages, that keep the virus in, so as long as you keep the bandage on, you and those around you are perfectly safe.
All of the reasons not to vaccinate that you give are very weak.
I was born in 1945 and when I grew up everyone was vaccinated against smallpox. The vaccination was always given on the outside of the arm, right near the shoulder.
My parents were both born in 1920 and they were both vaccinated. My mom had a scar the size of a quarter on her arm, my dad's scar was much smaller, but still noticeable--better vaccine.
I never saw anyone's arm who had not been vaccinated. By the time I was vaccinated the technique was better still and my scar is very inconspicuous, but everyone I ever saw in the entire US had a vaccination scar. I can still remember watching movies and seeing scars on all the actors--even extras playing primitive tribesmen.
I am certain there were side effects, and deaths, but the numbers were very low.
Like it or not, the US is a target of very evil people, and this is one of the easiest civil preparedness measures the nation could take.
You may not want to be vaccinated, and that is your right. But the medical establishment is trampling all over my right to be vaccinated if I want to be.
By the way, the vaccinations were given to kids who are always rubbing their eyes and I never even heard of anyone going blind from eye contamination, much less meeting anyone with that problem.
The vaccine is not made from smallpox, but from a related bacteria. If there is a contageous period it would not be actual smallpox that was transmitted.
This is false. The virus in the vaccination is vaccina, after which the process was named. Our parents had us get vaccinated. How many problems were there then?