Safety

U.S. smallpox vaccinations continue despite deaths

Hospital Safety Connection, April 3, 2003

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to continue its smallpox vaccination program for health care workers despite growing concerns about the safety of the vaccine, Reuters reports.

About 10 states, including California and New York, recently suspended their vaccination programs after two health workers and a soldier all died of heart attacks after receiving immunizations. Officials in Washington State said April 1 that they would suspend smallpox vaccinations for two weeks to re-screen health workers at risk for heart disease.

The CDC now recommends the exclusion from vaccinations of anyone with a history of heart disease or suffering from three or more major risk factors (such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol) for heart disease.



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