[aristeides]

The death rate from the old smallpox vaccine before it was discontinued was about one in a million. Considering the awfulness of the threat, a few hundred deaths strikes me as a reasonable price for insurance.

[Stentor]

The death rate from the old smallpox vaccine before it was discontinued was about one in a million. Considering the awfulness of the threat, a few hundred deaths strikes me as a reasonable price for insurance.

The leave me alone, public health is a police state crowd will get their well deserved Darwin awards in the event of a smallpox outbreak.

[taxed2death]

Will you feel as noble, lying on your death bed, dying from the injection?

[Paleo Conservative]

The death rate from the old smallpox vaccine before it was discontinued was about one in a million. Considering the awfulness of the threat, a few hundred deaths strikes me as a reasonable price for insurance.

If the vaccine were made available now on a voluntary basis, those who are at high risk of complications could opt out of being vaccinated. The population choosing to be vaccinated would probably be at lower risk of having the side effects. The herd immunity gained by vaccinating them would also protect those who are at high risk of side effects. A high level of herd immunity would also deter an attack in the first place.