|
|
Article: Time for a pause.(unforeseen complications of smallpox vaccination should prompt examination of vaccination program)
- Article from:
- U.S. News & World Report
- Article date:
- April 21, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 All rights reserved. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Medicine is a humbling profession, notorious for its surprises. The most recent example is the smallpox vaccination program for military and hospital workers, which took us off guard with more than 20 cardiac complications, including three heart attack deaths. These have been the only deaths so far among 365,000 in the military and more than 30,000 civilians.
The government anticipated and largely prevented the well-documented skin reactions and rare cases of encephalitis. These side effects were expected to cause 1 death per million. Government scientists rightly excluded anyone with skin and immune system conditions known to be at highest risk. But heart events ...