U.S. to test dilutions of smallpox vaccine

Washington Times ^ | 10/15/01 | Stephen Manning

[kattracks]

The federal government has commissioned a study to learn if the nation's smallpox vaccine stockpile can be diluted to increase the amount available to fight a potential biological attack using the fatal disease.

The need for protection against the disease, which has been eradicated in its natural form, has become more pressing since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. There is no treatment for smallpox once it takes effect. Routine public vaccinations for the disease in the United States ended in 1972 because it no longer was considered a threat.

[kattracks]

Why wait for an attack? Why not begin large scale manufacturing of the vaccine and require vaccinations?

[Anotherpundit]

what i've been wondering is if it would be possible to develop a non-lethal, extremely contagious to humans cowpox variant -- and deliberately infect the country with it, to prevent the spread of smallpox.

[arielb]

because smallpox vaccine has its own risks

[okisok]

I would like to know if congress has been vaccinated. We know they have gas masks.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

I was vaccinated against smallpox in 1967, as were many of my contemporaries. Neither of my children have had smallpox vaccinations as they were no longer considered necessary. When did the US stop vaccinating against smallpox and why? Is the vaccination I received not effective against smallpox or the possible "terrorist" strain of smallpox?

[Sabertooth]

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