UN's SMALLPOX TERROR ALERT 10/21/01

The Observer | 10/21/01 | Anthony Browne

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Why, on the heels of the campaign for the government to provide drugs to old folks, am I now beginning to think that Yo Mamma's been Layin is being financed by the drug companies?

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Unfortunately it's been over 35 years since I was vaccinated. So according to these experts my immunity is almost null. And try getting a shot now. I'm desperately trying to get vaccinated in the next week or so before going overseas. Can you imagine being trapped in the virus factory for 8 hours (a commercial airliner) without being vaccinated???

[FITZ]

Maybe it's easier to get the vaccine in another country. They also give the smallpox vaccines to people working with animals, especially in research.

[GoreNoMore]

I was vaccinated for Small pox as a child, I have the scar. I had a doctor that said the small pox vaccination helped control fever blisters, so I got my yearly small pox vaccine until the early eighty's. I got about 5 small pox vaccinations after the childhood one. Not one of the additional small pox vaccines gave me another scar... wonder if that means, the vaccination is a life long one.

[sweetliberty]

Somebody is lying to us. In the nauseating parade of talking heads on Fox since Sept. 11 was an individual whose name I do not recall, but I believe he was either a doctor or with disease control...maybe both, and he was saying something to the effect that we do not possess the vaccine to vaccinate for smallpox anymore and that it would take up to six months to even produce a small amount. Now we're hearing it tossed around as a viable option as if we could all go out and get vaccinated tomorrow. Which is it? We can't have it both ways. Somebody is not being straight with us.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

Problem is, I don't want to wait until I'm overseas in case I have a reaction to it. Sort of a catch 22. But I'm working on getting the shot domestically and will let you guys know what they finally say.

[FITZ]

Yes, let us know. I have a feeling they won't let you have it ---but it'd be nice if they'd let us decide if we want it now or if we want to wait for them to produce more.

[FITZ]

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5010a1.htm

Go to the CDC's website, there's information about smallpox, the vaccine, who they let have it and how much they have available. There is available vaccine, they won't let just anyone have it though. Also there are risks of vaccination or contact with vaccinated people to people with lowered immunity like AIDS or people on cancer treatments.

[MarMema]

I was offered the vaccine in 1990, working in vaccine research for Bristol Myers Squibb. But I declined as I was about six months pregnant at the time.
I do recall the head of our company talking about how hard it was to get the vaccine from CDC for those employees who got it.
Anyway they can get this hummer back up and running and I bet they are still offering it to employees in research. All they have to do is move up to speed in manufacturing. Being the CDC and all, wonder who they report to for GMP.

[samtheman]

Simple math

SMALLPOX = FULL NUCLEAR RESPONSE

Targets? Well, we'll let you know after the buttons have been pushed.

Hint: Travelers should avoid countries where men wrap their head in rags and their women in chains.

[Califreeper]

I got a smallpox vaccination in childhood == then another in 1976 prior to a trip to Asia. The vaccine does exist -- we just need much, much more of it. Suppliers are hard at work right now producing more, enough to vaccinate the entire population if necessary. It's a big worry, but probably not impossible to combat.

[Lion's Cub]

The World Health Organisation has told them to ensure they can produce enough vaccine to protect their population against the disease, and is preparing to order mass precautionary vaccination of all citizens.

Either this article is nonsense or the WHO has gotten too big for its britches. The WHO has no such authority.

[Lion's Cub]

Thanks for posting that article. I suspect we knew within hours exactly where that anthrax came from. No sense puting Hussein on the alert any earlier than we have to. (At least, I'm hoping that is what Bush is doing...I'm assuming he wants to stabilize the surrounding countries first and then turn his fury on Iraq.)

[backhoe]

I'll use that link--- one day, when I feel up to wading thru hundreds of links, I'll do a post on GWS- another "Tale from the Underbelly" that the Media Jackals don't like to talk about..... and don't want you to mention, either--

[jalisco555]

FWIW, it's my understanding that we currently have enough vaccine for 15 million people but there are some who believe that this may be diluted to vaccinate more. I sure hope someone is turning on the vaccine factory

Keep in mind also that one can be vaccinated for smallpox after exposure and the vaccine will still give some protection.

I do not trust the mortality estimates being bandied about. In the bad old days smallpox was endemic, meaning everyone was exposed but only a small percentage of the population was sick at any one time. Today, an epidemic would make huge numbers sick at once, leaving fewer healthy people to care for the ill. People might die of neglect, secondary infections, even hunger. I don't think historical data helps here much.

[mo]

the last outbreack in the Western Hemispere was in Canada in 1924. there was 50% mortality. If you been vaccinated you may still get the disease-you may not die.

[FITZ]

It wasn't hard for them to vaccinate the whole world in the past, it shouldn't be too difficult now. The plan they say they have which is to quarantine anyone who gets ill and only vaccinate those exposed to just that person is dumb, the best way to prevent the spread would be to vaccinate all who want to be vaccinated, then even the unvaccinated ---like AIDS patients would be protected better because the spread of smallpox would be limited.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

I'm in 100% agreement with you on that. I'm going to an area that "should" be safe. But I'm not going to take any chances, especially on an airplane.