How's the response been in Chicago?
3 HealthEast hospitals opt out of smallpox vaccination program
Dane Smith
Star Tribune
Published Jan. 26, 2003
Three hospitals in the HealthEast system are the latest to opt out of the federal government's voluntary smallpox vaccination program for doctors, nurses and other health care workers.
HealthEast officials have decided not to immunize health care workers, at least in Phase I of the program, because of concerns from the workers about potential health threats from the vaccinations, said Anne Sonnee, spokeswoman for the hospitals.
Hospitals affected by the decision are St. Joseph's in St. Paul, St. John's in Maplewood and Woodwinds in Woodbury.
The smallpox vaccination program was initiated because of fears that terrorists might somehow acquire and spread the smallpox virus. Federal officials want to vaccinate enough health care professionals to care for victims if an outbreak occurs.
In its first phase, the vaccine will be available for a small number of key doctors and nurses who would be designated as the first responders to an outbreak. In its second phase, the vaccine will be ready for a larger group of health care workers.
However, the vaccinations, for a disease long ago considered eradicated, carry some risks of serious side effects, especially for people with certain health conditions, such as eczema or other skin problems.
The number of workers who have volunteered to receive the vaccine is smaller than state Health Department officials had expected, but state officials say that enough hospitals and workers are participating to provide an adequate response to an outbreak. |
