NO SMALLPOX VACCINATIONS FOR AMERICANS

Fox News | 6/20/02 | Fox News

[goody2shooz]

Heard around 12:25 pm on Fox News Alert: the CDC, in a panel of twelve "experts", have announced that no widespread vaccinations of Americans will be conducted.

[Jhoffa_]

I must assume most of these folks are under 40 and think that there is some diabolical plot to people wanting them to get vaccinated.

My objection is based purely on principle.

Although I had the vaccination as a child (I think, TB and polio for sure) I just refuse to run around filing lawsuits and "bashing" ( <-eh? ) the President and the Administration over what is up till now a non-existant threat.

I don't think I should pay for it and I don't think I should be forced to undergo it and I am not sure that a vaccination today will protect us against the terrorists tomorrow..

But if you want to, I support you in that.

Do it, pay for it and if it helps you sleep then I am happy for you.. Just leave me out of it please, that's all I ask. Now, I think that's perfectly reasonable.

[Kaslin]

Am I correct in the assumption that you are in the military?

[Steve Eisenberg]

Good. I don't want that hideous scar on my arm for something that's almost certainly never going to happen.

Gee. I never thought I, and everyone else over 40, had a hideous scar. Live and learn.

[DontMessWithMyCountry]

well, now, we'll just have to send in Uncle Sam the boogey man to innoculate them--they trust him far more than themselves, so they'll crawl out, dustbunnies and all, at the mere sound of his authoritarian voice ;-)

[Jhoffa_]

Hey pal.. I still got one from the TB shot.

[Dales]

Let's see. We can vaccinate every single American, which would probably kill 300 of them and cost millions, to prevent someone using smallpox which there is no indication that terrorists could get even if they wanted. And the terrorists would still be here to find some other means.

Or we could instead try to wipe the terrorists out.

I don't think I come to the same conclusion as you.

[Dales]

I am not sure how, if they were voluntary, HMOs would have been required to pay for them anyway. If there is something medical that I want but don't need, my HMO doesn't cover it.

[Dales]

Well, they estimate 300 if everyone in the nation got it. That puts the risk of death from complications of the vaccine at somewhat under 1 in a million.

I know that one reason the vaccine was discontinued was because with the disease eradicated, there was no reason to continue exposing people to the potential complications. So that 1 in a million rate sounds about right.

So, do we trade the cost and those lives for the peace of mind against a more devastating outbreak?

The sick thing is, I don't know.

I am curious about why they did not allow for people to choose to get it though.

[Miss Marple]

My position is that I want the vaccine to be available. I don't necessarily want the government to pay for it unless there is a definite outbreak and it needs to be done quickly for national security.

Those of us who believe in the vaccination should be able to get it. Right now it is very difficult to do so and reports like this simply reinforce doctors' pooh-poohing of the need (coupled with their fear of lawsuits in the remote chance a vaccinated patient gets complications). I would be happy to have my entire family vaccinated and pay for it as a civic duty. For those who don't want the vaccination, that is their business, as long as they understand that if there is an outbreak and we have lots of unvaccinated people, the only recourse the government will have is quarantine of infected areas. (That is how smallpox outbreaks were handled before Jenner discovered the vaccine.)

[Dales]

I can't argue with it being made voluntarily available.

But you want to know why I bet it won't be made voluntarily available?

Because then we would get into the Jesse Jacksons of the world claiming that it is racist to give out because poor blacks can't afford it. And then when we are forced into making it a nationwide handout (that was probably unnecessary and resulted in deaths that could have been avoided), then there will be lawsuits claiming the vaccine was unsafe and lawsuits claiming that the vaccine itself was racist since it led a higher death rate among minorities (due to the complications with autoimmune problems).

If the risk assessment for a terrorist outbreak of smallpox is that it simply isn't going to happen, or if the risk assessment is that an outbreak is likely to be genetically engineered and not prevented by the vaccine, then this is the right decision.

But I honestly don't have enough information to know one way or another.

[Jhoffa_]

.. or if the risk assessment is that an outbreak is likely to be genetically engineered and not prevented by the vaccine, then this is the right decision.

I think that's entirely possible.. In fact, I think it's likely.

(along with your "racism" theory. THAT would definately happen, imo)

[Jhoffa_]

I don't necessarily want the government to pay for it unless there is a definite outbreak and it needs to be done quickly for national security.

Then it does become a necessity, certainly.. And the inadvetant deaths that may come along with it (in the form of side effects) can be attributed to the terrorists and laid on their doorstep, as opposed to general paranoia and panic on behalf of the public and fedgov.

[jwh_Denver]

You posted "Contact your Senators and members of Congress immediately if you reject this idea. It is vitally important that we PREVENT terrorism.

Frankly I believe this decision by the CDC stinks!"

Sounds like a commie to me. No hint of optional here. Then you say you want the option? Which is it?

I think there were a number of good posts that explained why this decision by the CDC is a good one. I wouldn't get the vaccination whether the government wanted me to or not.

[Jhoffa_]

It is vitally important that we PREVENT terrorism.

It's become the rallying cry of loons everywhere..

(I swear, you would think Osama WON with the way people are acting..)

[MissAmericanPie]

It is bad news. Wasn't there a thread on FR about five months ago saying that out of a US population of 285 million that 180 million could die in a Small Pox epidemic? I know it was a horrifying amount.

[maestro]

Yesterday, at the doctor's office, I asked for my ten-year vaccination shot for "tetanus" immunization.

I was told, "NO WAY", tetanus shots are ONLY given now at emergency rooms for emergency "cases"!

I was told, "There is an ONGOING WORLDWIDE SHORTAGE of tetanus vaccine!

Sheesh, doesn't anyone "believe" we are at war?

Who WILL "stand-up" for the long range HEALTH of "Citizens".

ENRON?

...............................................BTTT

m

[jwh_Denver]

(I swear, you would think Osama WON with the way people are acting..)

He has, at least with me. I'm more afraid of our stupid government than I am of some terrorist. On the surface this WOT looks like Vietnam. Fight the war with as few brains as you can. Do as much stupid sh*t as you can that costs money and either is meaningless or hurts fighting the terrorists. Put handcuffs on your abilities.

But their is a small hope inside me that what I see is an illusion. That underneath our radar right now our elite fighting men are hosing an Al Quada house. A terrorist now has a hand over his mouth and a knife in his back. A sniper has a piece of trash in his crosshairs. A hacker just got into an Al Quada computer and is getting important information. Hope against hope.

[Jhoffa_]

I'm more afraid of our stupid government than I am of some terrorist.

Me also.. Because Osama and the dirty underwear gang will be defeated and will go away.

Fedgov and the precedents we set today will be with us for as long as there is a Republic.

[alfie]

you're right. i had one in grade school, army and one in '69 and '72 before i went to europe. all of these were required. nobody told me i was at risk.

[David_H]

Mortality rates from smallpox (roughly 30%) were estimated in the period prior to widespread antibiotic availability for the common secondary infections.

The India 1 strain of Smallpox which the Soviets weaponised causes the haemorraghic form of the disease. Its mortality rate is more like 70%. If al-Qaeda have a stock of Smallpox they are most likely to have this strain.