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You both have supplied excellent answers.

I really get a kick out of spetznaz's insights into some of these questions. You certainly have a unique perspective! LOL. I WAS around in the 70s, but even during my childhood (the 40s) people weren't afraid of Smallpox. I don't think anyone alive in America younger than 80 had ever seen the disease here or known anyone who died from it. But no one was afraid to take it. I remember lining up at school to get my booster. We welcomed the smallpox booster over the tetanus shot -- the former was a scratch, and the latter really hurt! One of my children reacted pretty harshly to the vaccine (1960) but the others really didn't even get a temperature from it.

One of my friends had an allergic child who could not take the vaccine. All of us young mothers tsk, tsked about it certain that the little girl was in danger. But my friend explained that there had been no cases for so long that it was more dangerous for her daughter to take the vaccine, than not. Besides everyone else was protected so the chances of her daughter getting sick were slim to none!

I've read that there were more deaths caused by smallpox in the aftermath of the American Revolution than were caused by fighting. Smallpox decimated whole villages, brought home by the returning soldiers.

FairOpinion has an astute take on the problem too. Because those with deficient immune systems will not be allowed the vaccine there seems to be a PC movement afoot to discourage everyone else from taking it.

It is interesting that in my AOL News today there was an announcement that the government has removed liability from health professionals who receive the vaccine and unwittingly pass the infection on to their unvaccinated patients. Since the person being vaccinated is actually mildly contagious for about three days afterward this may present a big problem when they start vaccinating emergency workers and health professionals.

Because those with deficient immune systems will not be allowed the vaccine there seems to be a PC movement afoot to discourage everyone else from taking it.
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Which of course is totally stupid, putting in more danger the very people they claim they try to protect.
As you mentioned in your post, when everyone else who can take the vaccine, does take it, that protects those who cannot take the vaccine, because they stop the spread of hte disease. So by claiming to protect that "class" of people, they are putting those people in danger, along with everyone else.

But when did the liberals ever have a good idea.

Just allowing voluntary vaccination, would give more people protection, because it would significantly reduce the spreading of the disease, should it come to that.
I am not advocating mandatory vaccinations, only voluntary ones. But I don't think the government should keep people from taking the vaccine, if they chose to do so after consulting with their own physicians as to the risk to themselves.

But I think it it preposterous to keep the vaccine from everyone, because a few, who wouldn't have to take it anyway, might have an adverse reaction.

Some people are deathly allergic to penicillin. Do you think it would be fair to have kept penicillin off the market so nobody could take it?

It is interesting that in my AOL News today there was an announcement that the government has removed liability from health professionals who receive the vaccine and unwittingly pass the infection on to their unvaccinated patients. Since the person being vaccinated is actually mildly contagious for about three days afterward this may present a big problem when they start vaccinating emergency workers and health professionals.
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I read that only the actual area of the vaccine is contagious. I also read, that there are special bandages, which were tested and were 100% effective in keeping the virus inside. If someone removes their bandage, touches the area, then touches other things, and so one, that releases the virus. But if precautions are taken the chances of infecting anyone else is less than minimal.

I believe the reason for removing the liability was, because some hospitals were using that as an excuse to not allow their health care employees to get vaccinated.