[StillProud2BeFree]

Actually, I think the childhood smallpox immunization program, along with other childhood immunizations, have saved many many lives. I also have done quite a bit of geneology research, and it is amazing the number of ancestors who lost brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins to diseases we don't even worry about any more. Smallpox, measles, diphteria, whoping cough, and polio were all killers less than a hundred years ago. I have never had any reservations getting my kids their shots.

Only problem I had was my son got exposed to chicken pox the week before he was due for his shot - and came down with chicken pox while on steroids for a croup-like condition (which he fortunately outgrew). The docs suppressed the chicken pox with acyclovir so he had a mild case, then gave him the shot a couple of months later. I guess it worked - he was exposed at school before Christmas and no chicken pox!

[Oorang]

I agree that childhood immunizations have probably saved thousands+ of lives. The percentage of folks that had problems stemming from the vaccinations was/is small. I've known a couple of people that have developed adult polio and they received vaccines as children, but, again it is a small percentage. I also knew a child that died (supposedly) from the multiple vaccines. All in all I believe it is better to vaccinate. I just still have the gut feeling that they (the medical community) don't know as much as they want us to believe they do. I guess it's the skeptic in me.

[Calpernia]

Do we have any idea what countries still get the smallpox vaccine and why we stopped?