U.S. to begin smallpox vaccinations for first responders
Hospital Safety Connection, April 24, 2003
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Despite a lukewarm response to the first phase of smallpox vaccinations, federal health officials plan to forge ahead with the second phase of the program: immunizing up to 10 million emergency first responders, USA Today reports.
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services will ask states to expand the program by preparing for all forms of terrorism, including chemical, radiological, and conventional weapons.
In January, states began offering smallpox vaccine shots to physicians, nurses, and other health workers who would form teams to care for the first victims of a smallpox attack. Public health officials thought 500,000 would volunteer for the program, but as of April 11, only 32,644 people received the immunizations.
One major sticking point was the lack of liability and compensation for those made sick by the vaccine. Congress recently passed legislation addressing those concerns, but officials expect a similar response from first responders.
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