Between January and August of 2003 ...

Between January and August of 2003 the smallpox vaccine was administered to 38257 civilian health care and public health workers in 55 jurisdictions to prepare the United States for a possible terrorist attack using the smallpox virus. The Center for Disease superintendence and Prevention (CDC) has released surveillance data upon these vaccinations, which are available at http://www cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ mm5234a4.htm.

Civilian vaccine recipients are to report any adverse terminations to the person or institution who administered the vaccine, and to the CDC The U Department of Defense is conducting surveillance for vaccine-associated adverse circumstances among military vaccine recipients and providing follow-up care to those individuals with reported adverse events. Adverse conclusions that have been associated with smallpox vaccination are classified in succession the basis of evidence supporting the reported diagnoses. Cases verified on virologic testing, or in a certain number of instances by other diagnostic testing, are classified as confirmed.

Among 38257 immunized characters there have been 11 suspected and 11 confirmed cases of inadvertent inoculation, 17 suspected and five probable cases of myocarditis or pericarditis, sum of two units suspected and one confirmed case of generalized vaccinia, and a single case of suspected postvaccinial encephalitis or encephalomyelitis.

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group