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Two soldiers develop bad reactions Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-02-05-smallpox_usat_x.htmhttp://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-02-05-smallpox_usat_x.htm
Two soldiers develop bad reactions to smallpox shot
By Anita Manning, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Two soldiers have had potentially serious reactions days after receiving the smallpox vaccine, but no problems have been reported among more than 400 civilian health workers immunized in the past two weeks, a health official said Wednesday.
The soldiers are the first known cases of severe reactions among thousands being vaccinated as part of the president's bioterrorism preparedness plan. Both men are recovering. Under the first phase of the plan, 500,000 military personnel will be immunized. About 450,000 civilian public health and hospital workers are being offered the vaccine. They would care for the first victims if terrorists unleash the virus.
The Defense Department says that as of Jan. 31, 3,665 military health care workers had been vaccinated. The Pentagon has declined to disclose the total number of military personnel vaccinated so far. One 23-year-old Army soldier developed encephalitis (brain swelling) eight days after being vaccinated. He is expected to be released soon from the hospital. A 30-year-old Army soldier suffered "generalized vaccinia," a widespread rash that is caused by the virus used in the smallpox vaccine. He is back at work. Their names are not being released.
Most of the military personnel are being vaccinated for the first time, and are therefore more likely to suffer reactions than people who were vaccinated as children. Routine smallpox vaccinations ceased in the USA in 1972.
"It's gone surprisingly well, much better than we expected it would," said Greg Martin, assistant dean at Uniform Services University in Bethesda, Md. "We've had lots of mild reactions."
No severe reactions have been reported among civilian health workers vaccinated so far, said Joseph Henderson of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Henderson, associate director of the CDC's Terrorism Preparedness and Response Program, spoke Wednesday to state and local public health officials at a meeting sponsored by the National Governors Association. He said:
Forty-three states had requested 368,700 doses of vaccine; 221,700 have been shipped to 30 states and the city of Los Angeles.
Vaccinations have been given to 432 people in 11 states.
The program has met with resistance, especially from hospitals and nurses' groups who are concerned about what they see as inadequate liability coverage for those administering the vaccine and compensation for people who become ill or miss work as a result of vaccination. Initially, 3,600 hospitals expressed interest in taking part in the vaccine program, but "that number has gone down a bit," Henderson said.
In Virginia, more than half of the 88 hospitals with emergency services have declined to take part until liability and compensation issues are resolved, said Lisa Kaplowitz, state deputy commissioner for emergency preparedness.
Contributing: Laura Parker
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