From AP, June 16. Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia:
"I would not give that [smallpox] vaccine to my children now."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
"Fauci...told scientists and health officials the [smallpox] vaccine is one of the least safe around, although clearly a lifesaver if smallpox makes a comeback."
But do understand--you won't make the decision for those who don't want the vaccine.
As a practicing physician in the community,
With all due respect, unless you are an epidemiologist or similar infectious disease specialist, your professional credentials go only so far.
It is inappropriate for the federal gov't to limit delivery of essential medical services. YOU ARE NOT THE PHYSICIAN MAKING THIS DECISION. I AM!
Quite obviously, there are others in the medical profession who don't regard smallpox vaccination as an essential medical service.
Do you have any evidence to support this scenario as an existing and plausible threat? The Soviet Union's stockpile of smallpox was not sufficiently engineered to make this claim stick.
So far as you know, and safe to say that Biopreparat doesn't send a full accounting of its activities to American physicians.
You have no data to support your assessment.
Other than anecdotal evidence to the contrary, neither do you.
If you do, I publicly challenge you to post that information so I can review it.
Right. And you'll also want a pair of E-passes for the rides at USAMRIID?
Is this country so far gone that voluntary vaccination is no longer conceivable?
Even if people wish to refuse the vaccine they will be benefitted by others who voluntarily do so. The vaccinated will slow the progress of the disease and reduce the unvaccinated's probability of exposure.
You don't have to be an MD to figure that out but given the Socialist mentality of most MD's these days, it certainly helps.
I'd hate to be in the bureaucrat's shoes who withheld the vaccine after a smallpox attack.
Dr. James Koopman (U of Michigan). Science, volume 296, number 31, May 2002. "Smallpox is a barely contagious and very slow-spreading infection." Do you actually want to engage in a comparison of the risks of invasive Streptococcal Pneumonia and Prevnar's side effect profile vs. the risk/benefit ratio of smallpox immunization and Wyeth's old vaccine? While the disease is barely contagious, the issue is not entirely one of public health issues. The issue is also one of international strategic threat and terrorism. In this case, we have the defensive missile shield already in our possession. The only factor defeating protection for most people is fear of litigation!
From AP, June 16. Dr. Paul Offit, chief of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia: "I would not give that [smallpox] vaccine to my children now."
Please review the funding of Dr. Offit's office at CHOP. Post the sources of his grant funding for us to see please. You should also clarify which vaccine Dr. Offit is referring to.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief of infectious diseases at the National Institutes of Health. "Fauci...told scientists and health officials the [smallpox] vaccine is one of the least safe around, although clearly a lifesaver if smallpox makes a comeback."
Neither Fauci nor ANY of the physicians you quote were involved with or participated in the elimination of smallpox in 1977 by WHO. Fauci's comments are laughable when one compares the risk/benefit profile of smallpox to Rotashield.
But do understand--you won't make the decision for those who don't want the vaccine.
I am making the decision for MYSELF, MY FAMILY, and any patients/families who want similar treatment. It is unacceptable for government to preclude me from doing my best to defend my patient's interests. In this case, the ACIP is dead wrong and I don't intend on permitting the on-going hypocrisy at ACIP to continue status quo.
I can think of no better example of government hypocrisy and failure that the recent ACIP recommendation. ACIP admits the threat is real and chooses to immunize themselves and their "teams". ACIP fails us because it does not provide for the common defense. Ronald Reagan said in 1980, "Government isn't the solution to the problem. Government is the problem!"
With all due respect, unless you are an epidemiologist or similar infectious disease specialist, your professional credentials go only so far.
I don't need to post resume. I have already posted plausible and reasonable public policy discussion. If you have some reason to attack that policy, state it! If not, end your attempt at "resume attack" and start revealing your real identity. May I inquire what your credentials are?
Quite obviously, there are others in the medical profession who don't regard smallpox vaccination as an essential medical service.
quite obviously, you choose to not safeguard yourself or your family. That is your choice. However, your choice should not limit my ability to defend my own family and community.
So far as you know, and safe to say that Biopreparat doesn't send a full accounting of its activities to American physicians.
READ KEN ALIBEK and LISTEN TO GENERAL EITZEN. I have.
Other than anecdotal evidence to the contrary, neither do you.
I'd say that General Eitzen isn't lying when he publicly states the threat. Has the CDC requested a briefing from the General? Did ACIP even consider a threat assessment by USAMRIID? If so, the ACIP statement does not even acknowledge the leading role that USAMRIID should be playing. Instead, the liberals are attacking USAMRIID as the "source!" of anthrax. How ridiculous!
Right. And you'll also want a pair of E-passes for the rides at USAMRIID?
1. You don't have E-passes at USAMRIID.
2. You have no data to support your arguments
If you do have data, you've not posted one lick of it.
Dr. Koopman is incorrect. CDC's own website has this interesting tid-bit (we'll see how long it stays on their website.)
"The potential of aerosolized smallpox to spread over a considerable distance and to infect at low doses was vividly demonstrated in an outbreak in Germany in 1970 (11). That year, a German electrician returning from Pakistan became ill with high fever and diarrhea. On January 11, he was admitted to a local hospital and was isolated in a separate room on the ground floor because it was feared he might have typhoid fever. He had contact with only two nurses over the next 3 days. On January 14 a rash developed, and on January 16 the diagnosis of smallpox was confirmed. He was immediately transported to one of Germany's special isolation hospitals, and more than 100,000 persons were promptly vaccinated. The hospital had been closed to visitors because of an influenza outbreak for several days before the patient was admitted. After the diagnosis of smallpox, other hospital patients and staff were quarantined for 4 weeks and were vaccinated; very ill patients received vaccinia-immune globulin first. However, the smallpox patient had had a cough, a symptom seldom seen with smallpox; coughing can produce a large-volume, small-particle aerosol like what might occur after its use as a terrorist weapon. Subsequently, 19 cases occurred in the hospital, including four in other rooms on the patient's floor, eight on the floor above, and nine on the third floor. Two were contact cases. One of the cases was in a visitor who had spent fewer than 15 minutes in the hospital and had only briefly opened a corridor door, easily 30 feet from the patient's room, to ask directions. Three of the patients were nurses, one of whom died. This outbreak occurred in a well-vaccinated population."
Thinking twice about getting immunized? I would.