Smallpox vaccine to go public (how to compensate people injured by the experimental vaccine)

Associated Press ^ | September 27, 2002, | Associated Press

[USA21]

WASHINGTON -- Moving aggressively to steel the nation against bioterrorism, the Bush administration is preparing to offer the effective but risky smallpox vaccine to every American before an attack ever occurs.

Just three months ago, federal advisers were recommending that only select hospital workers get the smallpox vaccine, maybe 20,000 total. Now Bush administration officials say that eventually, it will be offered to all 280 million Americans. The questions being debated are how fast and under what circumstances, according to three officials involved in the planning.

[USA21]

Feds ponder who will be liable for Americans killed or injured by experimental smallpox vaccine

Another unanswered question is liability -- how to compensate people injured by the experimental vaccine.

Made from a live virus, the vaccine itself is risky, particularly for people with certain skin diseases and weak immune systems.

Studies from the 1960s suggest one or two people per million inoculated will die. About one in 1,000 will face complications, some serious, including a severe skin rash or encephalitis that may kill or cause permanent neurological damage.

[A. Morgan]

Send the bill to the UN.

[A. Morgan]

Thinking about that a second time, send the bill to Bill Clinton.

[July 4th]

Feds ponder who will be liable for Americans killed or injured by experimental smallpox vaccine

Well, for starters, don't require people to get it. If you want the vaccine, then maybe you should sign a waiver to release the giver/manufacturer from liability should it cause complications. Then it's your own personal decision.

I would gladly sign, as I have no indications that I would have any reaction...plus, I wouldn't mind having the vaccine.

[Cicero]

One or two people per million? And most of those with compromised immune systems or other problems?

If it weren't for the trial lawyers, this wouldn't even be worth worrying about. Your chances of a really bad reaction are about equivalent to being struck by lightning.

And, yes, I was struck by lightning once, while I was in a small sailboat, but it was pretty mild. I'll take my chances. That's what freedom is all about.

[discostu]

If the studies from the 60s are valid I wouldn't call this risky. 2 people per million, that lower than the number of people with life threatening penut allergies. If 1 or 2/1,000,000 is enough to hold back small pox then we'd better ban... just about everything.

[boris]

"Experimental"?

Didn't hurt me in 1955.

I could use a booster of that "experimental" stuff.

--Boris

[AngrySpud]

Hundreds of thousands of Americans should NOT get it, and in any case, there's really no need for Everybody to get it. Even if only 2/3 of the population were immunized, the result would be "herd immunity", making it difficult for the virus to spread.

[terilyn]

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[BJungNan]

How to compensate people injured by the vaccine?

1. Give them material to read regarding the risks of the vaccination along with a Release of liability form.
2. They are given 72 hours to review both documents (with their attorney and/or doctor if they so choose).
3. The release gives up all rights to sue for any adverse reaction to the vaccine. If they sign the release, they get the vaccination. If they don't sign the release, no vaccination.

Is there any question about this?

[Navy Patriot]

From the article it is not clear if this is a new vaccine, existing old stock, or a remanufacture of the old vaccine that was used untill the early 70's.

If new, the risks could be different and possibly worse than the old vaccine. If it is the original type, we got a lot of protection with very few disasters. Hopefully this time it will be the same.

[AnAmericanMother]

You too?

I've had what I'd call near misses twice, because the lightning didn't actually pass through my body (although I got a tingle in both cases and my hair stood on end) - once in a car (fortunately a '62 Studebaker, not one of these modern computer cars, so all it did was ruin the alternator). The second time was more entertaining - I was standing in my parents' living room with my grandfather, a WWI vet, and my parents' housekeeper. Lightning struck the roof, hit the gutters, then ran to the TV antenna (exploded the picture tube), got into the house wiring, and blew all the covers off the switches and outlets. When it got to the end of the line, a huge ball of fire rolled between Pa-Pa and me and into the fireplace, where it exploded. He didn't turn a hair, just raised one eyebrow and remarked, "Well, that was something!" in a level tone. He was a tough customer. I didn't say anything, neither did my parents' housekeeper, although she did turn grey with fright (I didn't see myself in a mirror but I bet my face was a study, too.)

Anyhow, I'd get revaccinated in a heartbeat. I received multiple vaccinations as a kid and as a teenager and young adult, probably been vaccinated 4 or 5 times, at least 3, because we used to travel in Central American and Haiti quite a bit. (Still can see the matching scars on both upper arms.) If I have no problems, we'll line the kids up. I understand that folks who received multiple vaccinations have more immunity remaining than those who only got it once as a baby. If that's the case, anybody who was in the Army up until about 1973 should be O.K.

How is this "experimental" vaccine different from the old "scrape"?

[teresat]

Are you going to force those of us who don't want to vaccinated to be? Sorry but I have problems contraindicated but do you think any doctors have told me this? You learn this after the fact.

[Edison]

The vaccines we currently require children to get, MMR for one causes more problems than what is described by the fear mongers. I have trouble believing they could pull off the mass innoculations in the face of an epidemic.

Don't want it? Don't get it but don't complain if you do get it. I've had two and wouldn't think twice about a 3rd. My kids who haven't been imunized for smallpox would soon sport the vaccine tatoo.

[luckystarmom]

We're trying to figure out what to do. Our daughter has severe eczema which puts her at risk for complications from the vaccine.

[mykdsmom]

I received it twice in the 60's as a kid and I survived. I'll take my chances on the 3rd time and my husband and 3 kids will be getting it too.

MKM

[JulieRNR21]

I wonder if you were given the vaccine as a child and didn't react badly then; would you would be less likely to get a serious side effect now?

[Paleo Conservative]

Studies from the 1960s

Medicine has advanced since the 1960s. It is likey that antiviral medications used to treat AIDS might be useful for controling reactions to the vaccine.

[Paleo Conservative]

We're trying to figure out what to do. Our daughter has severe eczema which puts her at risk for complications from the vaccine.

Write your congressman and senators. The Germans tested a safer vaccine on 150,000 people in the 1970s. Most of the recipients were at high risk of developing complications from the traditional vaccine. A few months after receiving the experimental vaccine they were able to safely take the tradional vaccine made with the vaccinia virus. Congress ought to pass legislation waive the efficacy requirements for this vaccine immediately. There are many people like my brother who have eczema, and possibly can't tolerate the conventional smallpox vaccine.

[Pushi]

I don't understand. Can somebody with knowledge about these tell my how this vaccination is different from the one I had the first time in 1953? Was that one also risky? I know it made my arm sore as hell. I got vaccinated so that I could go on our senior class trip to Mexico. The night of the senior prom, the blister ruptured and ran down my arm. When I took my suit coat off my whole shirt sleeve was soaked with puss. Is this the same kind of vaccination?