Smallpox vacinne effort planned

By Danielle Strenke
Chisago County Health Dept. employees and local health care workers are preparing to implement the first phase in an effort to vaccinate a small amount of the population against smallpox.
Chisago County Family Health Supervisor Mary Jo Chippendale said an estimated 50-75 people in Chisago County will receive the vaccination voluntarily after the Homeland Security Bill is passed Jan. 24.
Under a plan detailed by President George W. Bush in December, phase one of the plan to protect the country against the risk of a bioterroristic attack of smallpox is to vaccinate only a controlled population who deal directly with those who may come in contact with smallpox.
The list includes contact investigators with the health department and health care workers who would have direct exposure.
Chippendale said because there is no imminent threat at the present time that suggests such a bioterrorist attack, only phase one is being planned for in the Chisago County area, which also includes areas north and west of Chisago County up to Mille Lacs, Brainerd and Hinckley.
In phase one, those being vaccinated are doing so voluntarily because there is no immediate threat but also because there are also significant side effects in some cases from the vaccine. ìThe vaccine does carry risk of becoming very ill and even dying,î Chippendale said. ìThose risks need to be weighed against whether it is probable that smallpox will be used as a bioterrorist weapon,î she said.
The disease itself has about a 30 percent mortality rate. In the first phase, it is expected that around 5,000 to 10,000 Minnesotans will be vaccinated.
If the plan is continued to phase two, it would include vaccinating all emergency personnel and health care employees, up to 200,000 people statewide.
Even in phase two, those at high-risk of developing side effects will not be vaccinated. High-risk categories include those with possible allergic reactions, pregnant or nursing women, people with weakened immune systems and people with certain skin conditions.
Minnesotaís State Epidemiologist Dr. Harry Hull said participation in the vaccination at any phase will be voluntary.
ìThe actual likelihood of a terrorist attack involving smallpox canít be known or calculated with any kind of precision,î he said. ìBut is such an incident did ever occur, we know that the results would be devastating. Thatís why weíre proceeding with this effort.î
Chippendale said she would expect that the first people to receive the vaccine would be Minnesota Dept. of Health workers, because people who will be giving the vaccine must have had the vaccine themselves.
She also stressed that people should not be overly concerned with the efforts to prepare for a smallpox attack. ìA good analogy would be that you buy smoke alarms for your house, not because youíre planning on there being a fire but you want to prepare for it. This is the same kind of preparedness.î
She said Chisago County health officials have not received any phone calls or talked with anyone voicing concerns about smallpox.
If the Homeland Security bill is implemented Jan. 24, the first phase of vaccinations would be completed within 30 days. ìWe would probably begin vaccinations beginning in early February,î Chippendale said.
For more information on the smallpox vaccination effort, contact the Center for Disease Control, 1-800-657-3903.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com