Posted on 12/11/2002 4:07:58 PM PST by RCW2001
Wed December 11, 2002 06:51 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush said on Wednesday he had decided to make smallpox vaccine available to Americans on a voluntary basis to guard against a possible biological warfare attack.
"I think it ought to be a voluntary plan. ... I don't think people ought to be compelled to make the decision," Bush said in an interview with ABC television's Barbara Walters, a portion of which was broadcast on Wednesday.
Bush was expected to announce details of the plan later this week.
ABC said the vaccine would be given first to military personnel, then to emergency workers, including hospital employees, paramedics and police. It would be offered to the general public in 2004, when newer stocks of vaccine become available.
First Lady Laura Bush, asked in the interview how she would feel about her daughters taking the vaccine, said: "If the vaccine were available, which I think it will be, I would feel like that was certainly safe. ... I know there's a slight risk. That's what people will weigh."
Scientists say the smallpox vaccine, based on decades-old technology, presents a risk of side effects that include death in about one to two cases per million.
A) Do you think I'd rather type by hand what I can cut and paste for excerpts?
B) The smallpox vaccine is 228 years old, so of COURSE there's old material on it, as well as fairly recent material, as you'd see if you followed the link I just gave you..
Maybe he'll prescribe a lobotomy, then I can be just like you.
Tuor
They won't be able to control a heavily armed citizenry. The security of our lives and our country will be in our hands, not in insane, corrupt, and incompetent federal 'control'.
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