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To: Hoa Hao who wrote (69550)	9/12/2004 10:30:28 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793983

Why doesn't the gov simply offer the vaccine at various locations for free?? If we gave it to everybody, a small percentage would have a bad reaction and die. Why have thousands die when we know the risk is low at the moment?

To: Hoa Hao who wrote (69550)	9/12/2004 10:48:02 AM
From: unclewest	Respond to of 793983

Why doesn't the gov simply offer the vaccine at various locations for free?? Because they estimate, if the entire US population was vaccinated, 300 may not survive the vaccine. Others say that figure could be 250 per million. But there has never been a long-term study on the risk of taking the Smallpox vaccine. I saw one study that estimates that after a Smallpox outbreak and assuming the entire local population is immediately immunized, the death rate could easily top 20% of the affected population. The oft quoted figure that 30-35% of those infected will die is misleading because it assumes the patients are hospitalized. In a large outbreak that will not be possible. And the mortality rate depends on the form. There are several (I think I recall it is four) different forms of Smallpox. One form of Smallpox has a mortality rate of 98 to 100% of those infected. The vaccination program has three phases. Phase one was to immunize the troops. That has been done. Phase two is to immunize 500,000 medical personnel. That is on-going. At the completion of phase two data will be looked at to determine if phase three should be implemented. Phase three is immunizing the entire population.