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Michigan Halts Smallpox
Vaccinations
Gongwer News Service, March 31,
2003
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With two health care workers in
other states having died after receiving the smallpox
vaccination, the state Department of Community Health announced
Monday that it is suspending vaccinations here until the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention further studies the causes of
the two deaths and five nonfatal reactions to the vaccine.
There have been seven reported heart conditions or attacks
across the country since the CDC began administering the
vaccination program. The CDC last week announced it was
authorizing medical deferrals for the vaccine for those with
heart disease.
"Safety is our first concern for those who volunteer to serve on
smallpox response teams and to receive smallpox vaccination,"
said David Johnson, the state's chief medical officer. "When the
concerns regarding heart disease and smallpox vaccination have
been sorted out, we expect to resume vaccinations with an extra
measure of safety built in."
About 375 state volunteers have received the vaccine with no
known cases of "serious adverse reactions" to the vaccine, the
department said.
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