Fed Health Chief: I'll Skip Smallpox Vaccine

NY Post ^ | 12/16/02 | AP

[2sheep]

WASHINGTON - Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said yesterday he does not plan to be inoculated with the smallpox vaccine and recommends that other Cabinet members not request the inoculation either.

"I do not believe it is necessary or should be taking place," he said.

[Coleus]

`

[RightWhale]

It's probably best to wait and see if the President gets sick before endangering the health of a Cabinet Member. Good Move. NOT.

[Coleus]

I remember a lot of soldiers getting sick from the Anthrax vaccine.

[2sheep]

Twenty Reasons Not to Take Smallpox Vaccine  ~ or ~ Twenty Reasons Not to Take Smallpox Vaccine

21.  It is made from the tissue of aborted babies.

[Maynerd]

Just another profile in courage. This is not going to sit well with ER personell and "first responders".

[dodger]

I'm aboard and, though I've always liked him, Thompson has blundered badly here.

[dodger]

As for all you anti-vaccine types -- don't bother. If you are confused about basic demography, I shan't try to clear the motes from your eyes ....

[Scupoli]

Oh this is rich. I can't wait for the Quackwatch people to show up.

[11B3]

I'd sure like to see a poll among us here to see what percentage would/will take the shot when it is available. I'm betting that the percentage of us who will take it is higher than the percentage of those who belong to the other party.

[Fred Mertz]

I got the smallpox vaccine when I was too young to remember it. I have the scar.

I'm not worried about smallpox.

[cajungirl]

I will get mine. This is not that risky. what is it,,like one in a million die. As usual, some people will rely on others to stop an outbreak. You see the ones of us who will take the vaccine will not only be caring for the sick ones but will lessen the impact of an epidemic. We will provide the herd immunity for the oones who want to be noble and peaceful and not take a vaccine. Noone is being forced to do this but our servicemen. If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me.

[capt. norm]

Mr. Thompson had the vacccination as a child and that may be one reason why he can be so flippant about it.

The smallpox vaccine used to be made from live cowpox virus as it was discovered many years ago that people who had suffered from cowpox (harmless but ugly scabs, etc.) were immune to smallpox.

That's why they used to apply the cowpox virus by scratching to break the skin on the upper arm near the shoulder. That would result in a scab which we were instructed not to scratch...pretty heavy order when you're that young. The fact that it scabbed over was considered as an indication that it "took".

The rate of serious side effects was in the 2-digit per million range. If you drive a car or ride in one, you have about a thousand times (probably more) greater risk of dying on your way to work.

[cajungirl]

And another thing,,if Tommy said he was getting his and the cabinet was too, you can bet your bippy the press would start screaming about how the Washington insiders were getting theirs leaving the rest of us to languish with no immunity. As for me, let the rest of the world do what they want, I will get mine and have peace of mind.

[ladyjane]

What he neglects to mention: If there is an outbreak of smallpox who do you think will get the vaccine first? You or the cabinet members? you or elected officials? Pretty easy to turn down the opportunity if you know you will have immediate access to it if needed.

[FormerLurker]

Perhaps people have been reading up on the facts concerning the smallpox vaccine...

[RCW2001]

Same here and me neither....

[Publius6961]

I'm betting that the percentage of us who will take it is higher than the percentage of those who belong to the other party.

...or beat their wives!
LOL

That is such a 'Rat statement...

If it is voluntary, I might consider it.
If it is mandatory, they will have to arrest me and strap me down.

I won't bother to even try to explain why to you.

[joesnuffy]

Is the vaccine used today from the same source of live attenuated cowpox?

Or is it a stem cell by product..using an attenuated live small pox virus?

Will the govt. muckity mucks get their vaccine from the same identical source as the undermenchen?
...Or will they have their own "special" read purer well tested source?

Will the vaccine protect against any and every strain of small pox potentially used as a bio terror organism?

How do 'our' people know what 'their' people will use?

Did the terrs get theirs from us? or

Did the Russians give us a sample of what they sold the terrs so we could make an appropriate vaccine...?

[RCW2001]

Now there you go...

Get back in line and be prepared to show your 'scar'...