Smallpox: "…not a safe vaccine"

The potency of the smallpox vaccine has made it as much of an issue as the flaws and oversights contained in the federal government's Preparedness Plan.

Because the vaccine contains a "live" virus, the vaccination site must be carefully prepared and kept clean in order to prevent the virus from spreading. The strength of the vaccine prevents many people from being able to take it; including those with certain allergies or skin disorders, and those who are HIV positive or whose immune systems are compromised by other illnesses. Pregnant or nursing women, cancer patients and patients taking high levels of steroids are also excluded.

The potency of the vaccine has caused particular concern, with respect to its ability to to be transmitted. Those who are vaccinated must take great care to cover the vaccination site on their arm for three weeks or the virus could be transmitted to others. 

As a result of these potential problems, many hospitals are delaying their participation in the program, or opting out altogether. 

An infection-control manager for a health care system in Tacoma, Washington was quoted in an article in the Seattle Times newspaper about the dangers of the vaccine and the potential liability for hospitals, stating "Some of our physicians are concerned about their patients coming in contact with a vaccinated health worker. If there's a breach in the dressing protocol and harm to the patient, who's going to pay for what?" 

Another administrator for a hospital in Spokane, Washington asked, "If there's an adverse reaction and someone gets really ill or dies from a vaccination, where do we stand?”

With issues like these at stake and with the federal government offering little clarification or support, its no wonder that there is so much uncertainty over whether to participate in the Preparedness Plan. 

As the head of the preventive medicine department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee stated in the January 21st edition of USA Today, "The thing that stops you from doing this is the complexity of the smallpox vaccine, which is not a safe vaccine."