The Department of Defense today highlighted its plan to prepare
for and respond to possible smallpox attacks against
servicemembers. The Smallpox Vaccination Program is consistent
with FDA guidelines and the best practice of medicine. This
program supports the national smallpox preparedness plans
announced by the President, but is tailored to the unique
requirements of the Armed Forces. Like civilian communities,
DoD will ensure preparedness by immunizing personnel based on
their occupational responsibilities. These include smallpox
response teams and hospital and clinic workers. DoD will proceed
to vaccinate other designated forces having critical mission
capabilities. DoD will use existing FDA-licensed smallpox
vaccine. Like other vaccinations this will be mandated for
designated personnel unless they are medically exempted.

"The Department of Defense is establishing a smallpox
vaccination program to protect the health and safety of military
personnel. Smallpox is a serious infectious disease. We cannot
quantify the threat of it being used as a bioweapon; we know the
consequences of its use could be great," said William
Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.
"Vaccinating servicemembers before an attack is the best way to
ensure that our troops are protected and that they can continue
their missions if a smallpox outbreak occurs."

Smallpox is caused by a virus called variola, which
spreads from person to person through prolonged close contact.
Smallpox can cause a severe rash covering the whole body that
can leave permanent scars, high fever, severe headache or
backache. Smallpox kills about three out of 10 people infected.

In the United States, routine vaccination against smallpox ended
around 1972. In May 1980, the World Health Organization
declared the global eradication of smallpox as a naturally
occurring disease and recommended that all countries cease
vaccination. Military smallpox vaccination programs continued
longer. In 1984, routine military vaccinations were limited to
recruits entering basic training. This practice was
discontinued in 1990. In the wake of the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax letter attacks,
the Department of Defense reassessed the threat of a smallpox
attack. The resumption of a smallpox vaccination program is
intended to ensure that the military can achieve its missions in
case smallpox is used as a bioweapon. DoD continues to work
closely with the Department of Health and Human Services and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be prepared to
protect the nation in the event of a smallpox outbreak.

Further information regarding the Department of Defense smallpox
vaccination program can be found at
http://www.vaccines.army.mil/smallpox.asp


Sempers,

Roger