Doctors Urge Caution With Smallpox Vaccine
NATIONWIDE
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The American Academy of Pediatrics says the nation’s smallpox plan should involve limited vaccinations if a case occurs, not universal inoculations before there’s even an attack. Potential side effects are too severe, and available vaccines have not been tested on children, who may be at higher risk for bad reactions, the academy said in a policy statement released today.
Based on studies from the 1960s, 15 out of every million people vaccinated will face life-threatening reactions, and one to two will die.
The academy’s policy is more conservative than one being finalized by the Bush administration, which plans to offer the vaccine to all 280 million Americans.
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