Start Vaccinating Now (BY FREEPER IN USA TODAY'S "OPPOSING VIEW")

USA Today ^ | December 4, 2002 | William Tell

[tellw]

What would happen if news came out today of Americans being stricken with smallpox, the result of a bioterrorist attack? It's a question that U.S. bioterrorism experts looked at in June 2001, mere months before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. And the answer was not good.

[tellw]

USA Today's Editorial, which this is in opposition to, can be read here

[Caipirabob]

I agree. The "dangers" of this vaccine have been intentionally overhyped by the leftist media. It was distributed wide scales for years upon years without such outburst over any such danger. The benefits outwiegh the risks by far.

Sadly, I imagine any maniac who releases such a plague upon the whole of humanity would do so with just the naturally occuring strain. Still, any way we can build our resistance would be of help.

I daresay the sun will "set" on the Muslim world the moment this disease pops it's ugly head up. It would become an issue of the survival of our species, not just a group or a belief.

[American in Israel]

The Islamics are known for things like hanging a minature koran around the neck to make them "immune" to land mines or bullets. They would release the small pox in a hot minute.

Perhaps they are founding their belief on the thought that cockroaches always survive?

[OBone]

I think the "scare" over the vaccine is a red herring. All children were routinely vaccinated until the 70s. If people are willing to take the risk, they should have the vaccine made available.

[Bahbah]

Soes anyone have an idea whether those of us who were vaccinated years ago have any remaining immunity?

[GailA]

Wonder what the death rate is for polio, whooping cough, and the other child immunizations are? Some of them do a lot of damage to children. Yet we hear very little about it.

I had the small pox vaccine as a child. Don't remember even being slightly sick. I remember it well as it was the ONLY immunization I got. We didn't get one of those "special" 50 cent bandages either. Just told to keep it dry and clean.

[Man of the Right]

Vaccination is a minimalist public health measure. The left can make the same argument against trash removal. Every week 1-3 homeowners & garbage truck crewmen die removing it.

[FreedomPoster]

IANAE, but have read articles here that state there is substantial residual immunity for those of us innoculated 30+ years ago. IIRC, there were some recent studies done, and the researchers were surprised that this level of residual immunity existed.

[3D-JOY]

I have heard the same reports on residual immunity.

I guess I would like a test or "final" word on the actual cut-off date for past immunizations being effective.

The press can not be trusted to report studies accurately!

[steve50]

Soes anyone have an idea whether those of us who were vaccinated years ago have any remaining immunity?

In Rumsfields interview yesterday he said he would not be taking the vaccine, as he had his as a child. He must think the old one is good enough for him

[an amused spectator]

Excellent piece bump. Nice job, Tell.

[MrNeutron1962]

Well, in my parents generation there were 19 children, 10 on my fathers side, and 9 on my mothers side. All were born between 1921 and 1955. Out of that group, 2 succumbed to childhood illnesses, an aunt to diphtheria in 1927 and an uncle to polio in 1951. Both of these diseases are easy to prevent with routine childhood vaccinations today.

In my generation, there are 57 children all born between 1943 and 1984, none of whom have succumbed to any childhood illnesses. Say what you like against childhood vaccinations, but I’ll take this improvement over the alternative.

[pttttt]

Vaccination is a minimalist public health measure. The left can make the same argument against trash removal. Every week 1-3 homeowners & garbage truck crewmen die removing it.

Good point. The time to do it is before the emergency, not during when it's too late (smallpox is highly contagious and fast-spreading).

If there's fretting about side effects (not known to be a showstopper back when people, especially those going overseas, were routinely vaccinated), then let people have the choice. The left-wing naysayers will then be free to keep themselves vulnerable to this nasty disease.

[blam]

"Soes anyone have an idea whether those of us who were vaccinated years ago have any remaining immunity?"

Not sure, I read and heard it yes & no. I think they're talking about 'strange' and unusual strains these days. I was immunized in the early 50's, don't know if it is any benefit though.

I think we should start 'volunteer' immunizations....I would get one.

[AnAmericanMother]

The Israelis (always in the forefront on this sort of thing) did a study of residual immunity.

They found that those who had MULTIPLE vaccinations years ago retained a substantial level of immunity (i.e. those who were revaccinated in the Army, or for travel in suspicious areas). Those who had a single vaccination as an infant did not retain the same level of immunity.

I want the option to get revaccinated, though, and to get my children done as well. If this is the same vaccine that was given to us back in the 60s and 70s, the risks are pretty minimal. I know of absolutely NO-ONE from my childhood and teenage years who had a bad reaction to the smallpox vaccine (other than a truly yucky sore when the vaccine "took" - but that's why they make no-stick gauze bandages). In contrast, I still remember a boy in my 2nd grade class who had a violent reaction to the oral polio vaccine, and I know lots of kids (including my own) who had reactions to the DPT vaccine. Still beats diptheria, whooping cough, and typhoid (of my great great grandfather's seven children, five died of typhoid.)

[GailA]

I wasn't saying anything against vaccinations, just curious about them as related to the smallpox issue. The facts on them could be used to bolster the need to vaccinate for smallpox.

[Bella]

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n22/ffull/jst90000.html#a11

[dalereed]

When I came back from racing in Mexico after being gone 5 weeks I was forced to get a new vacination at LAX to re enter the country and it didn't take so my childhood vacination was still effective after more than 20 years.

[GailA]

Thanks, that gave me a better understanding.

I don't object to immunization. My biggest worry which has been MISCONSTRUED as anti-innumization is that they give TO MANY at one time. 4 at once is not a good idea especially when you have a family history of adverse reaction to meds or vaccines. There is nothing wrong with giving the shots 1 at a time to monitor the side effects and to minimize the after effects that usually accompanies such shots like the DPT's.

I made sure my boys had ALL the shots they were required to have..just got them 1 at a time after they had some serious reactions to the DPT. The Doc switched to a different type and that solved the problem.