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To: Kik who wrote (6994)	10/17/2001 12:07:04 PM
From: Tim Luke	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 8686

U.S. Plans to Stockpile Smallpox Vaccine October 17, 2001 08:57 AM ET Email this article Printer friendly version WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said on Wednesday the United States would dramatically boost its smallpox vaccine stockpile amid fears the contagious disease could be used in germ warfare. Speaking on morning television shows, Thompson said he would ask Congress later on Wednesday for an additional $500 million to pay for more smallpox vaccines. "We do have 15.4 million doses in hand if in fact we do find any smallpox, but I have to point out there has not been any smallpox in America or the world since the early 1970s," Thompson told CNN. He expected additional vaccines would be available within the next few months to boost America's stockpile. In an interview with NBC's "Today" show, he said the 15.4 million doses could possibly be stretched to 77 million doses if they were watered down 5-to-1, which was currently being looked into. U.S. researchers said this week they were recruiting healthy young adults and vaccinating them with watered-down versions of the smallpox vaccine to see if they were effective. America is in a state of high anxiety over the risk of biological agents since 12 cases of anthrax were detected following the Sept. 11 suicide-hijack attacks on New York and Washington. A Florida man has already died from the anthrax bacteria. Thompson said health and intelligence authorities had not seen any threat of smallpox but that they were being very vigilant. Smallpox was eradicated through a worldwide vaccination program and children have not been vaccinated for decades in America against the disease. Asked whether mandatory smallpox shots would be reintroduced, Thompson said he did not think it was appropriate at this time. "But those questions will be discussed in the future." Tom Ridge, director of the White House Office of Homeland Security, said late on Tuesday he was looking into whether immediate precautions should be taken to head off a smallpox attack that would be devastating to children. "Obviously that (smallpox) is something that is contagious, unlike anthrax. And we understand that it could potentially be a problem," Ridge told NBC, adding that steps should be taken to swiftly build up America's supply of the smallpox vaccine. Ridge, whose post was created after the Sept. 11 attacks in which more than 5,000 people died, said fighting bioterrorism was the No. 1 priority of the U.S. government in the weeks ahead.