Posted on 12/21/2002 1:13:59 PM PST by grimalkin
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush was vaccinated against smallpox on Saturday in his capacity as commander-in-chief of U.S. armed forces and was showing no side effects, a White House spokeswoman said.
Eight days ago, Bush announced plans to immunize half a million troops and up to 10 million civilian health care and emergency workers against the long-dormant disease, now deemed a terrorist threat.
Doctors began giving the vaccinations on Monday, ahead of a possible U.S.-led war to strip Iraq of any banned chemical, biological or nuclear weapons programs.
Bush took the shot in his left arm in the White House medical unit. It was administered by a senior immunization technician from Walter Reed Army Medical Center under the supervision of the White House doctor, Richard Tubb.
"The president feels fine and there are no side effects," Jeanie Mamo, the spokeswoman, said in a conference call with reporters initiated by the White House.
Bush had said he would get the shot as commander-in-chief. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said he also planned to be vaccinated against any attack involving the smallpox virus.
Scientists have warned that the vaccine can cause serious side effects in a small number of recipients, including brain inflammation and death.
Bush was immunized shortly before leaving by helicopter for his Camp David retreat in Maryland's Catoctin Mountains, where he was to spend Christmas with his family.
Smallpox has not occurred naturally since 1978 and the United States stopped vaccinating its citizens in 1972. But some experts fear that Iraq, North Korea and perhaps extremist groups may have turned smallpox into weapons.
The vaccine has changed very little since its invention in the late 18th century. It is formulated to deliberately infect the recipient with vaccinia, a live virus related to smallpox. The body's reaction to vaccinia makes one either immune or in some cases, less susceptible to smallpox.
Some people have severe side effects to the vaccine including a scarring rash, high fever and encephalitis, a swelling of the brain that can kill.
One or two in every 1 million people die from the vaccination, and another 1,000 per 1 million have a serious reaction to it, said Dr. Renata Engler, chief of Allergy and Immunology at the Walter Reed medical center.
The last thing we need is panic. Everyone running out to get a vaccine that is not yet necessary. It's one thing after an outbreak. The vaccine will be effective even up to days after someone is exposed. Ring vaccinations (vaccinating just those people in an area surrounding an outbreak) is the most effective right now. The needless death or illness would merely result in lawsuits and possibly causing the vaccine not to be available in the event of a terrorist strike.
It's not just that, it's that if someone gets sick or dies the newspapers will go nuts.
There is no need to take a vaccine unless you are going to be exposed to something. Our military may well be. The people in Kansas probably won't. Nobody should put medicine into their bodies unless it's necessary. There are enough vaccinations available to take care of the American people if smallpox is used as a weapon against us, but it could start a panic if suddenly everyone in government is getting vaccinated. People would immediately rush out and demand they be vaccinated too. Why?
What Tommy Thompson is telling people is "I believe what is being told to you and to show you I believe it, I'm not getting vaccinated." What Bush is telling the military is "As your Commander in Chief I will not ask you to do something I am unwilling to do". Both men are doing their jobs in a very noble manner.
Wasn't it amusing what Klintler said a couple months ago re:Israel? Words to the effect that should Israel be in danger of invasion he would grab a rifle and join them on the River Jordan! HA! What an asset THAT would be! Oddly enough, he got loud applause for his comments. How foolish can people be?
He would probably fear smallpox vaccination, but sure he has had plenty of shots for "acute urethritis!"
How can ring vaccinations help, in such a mobile society as we have now?
Assume that there's a smallpox release, and there's a three day incubation period. In those three days, thousands of people will have traveled from the source to locations all over the U.S. and the world, unwittingly bringing the virus with them.
If there is a strike and we are exposed, then getting the vaccinations will be life saving rather than life threatening.
When I was a kid, everyone had been vaccinated so it wasn't a problem. You ever try to tell a kid not to scratch something when it itches?
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