San Jose Mercury News,
Saturday, March 29, 2003
California suspends smallpox vaccinations
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The director of the California health department
has temporarily cancelled the state's smallpox vaccination program
following widespread concern that the vaccine caused heart problems in
some of the people who received it.
Friday's move by State Health Director Diane M.
Bonta came on the
same day that health officials in
smallpox vaccinations while investigators review the deaths of two
health care workers and a National Guardsman who suffered fatal heart
attacks after being immunized.
Earlier in the day, the California Nurses Association had called on
the state to end its smallpox program. (See below) Although
participation is voluntary for nurses and doctors, the nurses' group
said it was irresponsible for the state to administer the program when
at least a dozen health care workers and military personnel across the
country who received the vaccine experienced heart troubles.
Bonta ordered local health departments throughout the state to
postpone their smallpox vaccination clinics until at least April 7,
saying the delay would give the federal Centers for Disease Control
time to study possible links between preexisting heart conditions and
adverse vaccine reactions.
``For those who volunteer for smallpox vaccination, safety must be our
first concern,'' Bonta said. ``This delay will allow the smallpox
vaccination program to resume in a manner that is safe and
effective.''
As of
according to the Department of Health Services.
California Nurses Association's press release calling for end
of
California smallpox vaccination:
http://www.calnurse.org/cna/press/
California Nurses Association's fact sheet on the smallpox
vaccination:
http://www.calnurse.org/cna/feb14smallpox.pdf
New York and Illinois have also suspended smallpox vaccination, and
CDC is recommending not vaccinating people with either heart disease
or three of four cardiac risk factors: high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, smoking or diabetes. CDC rejected suggestions that
people over age 50 not get vaccinated on the basis
that it would
exclude too many people and cripple the program.