[samtheman]

The US government says it is not planning to vaccinate the whole population against smallpox unless attacks make it necessary. If a case is detected, authorities would "ring vaccinate" people in the surrounding area.

If a case is detected???

Gee, thanks. From the bottom of our hearts, all of us random Americans chosen by the luck of the draw to be in the "detected" group. Would have been nice to vaccinate everyone, before any cases are "detected", but hey, you're from the government and I know you're looking out for our best interests!

[martian_22]

The incubation period is long enough so that when the first detections become evident they won't know where to "ring". At today's interactive pace, transfere mediums may make it hard to find origins altogether.

But what do I know.

[Timesink]

Gee, thanks. From the bottom of our hearts, all of us random Americans chosen by the luck of the draw to be in the "detected" group. Would have been nice to vaccinate everyone, before any cases are "detected", but hey, you're from the government and I know you're looking out for our best interests!

This is a no-win situation for the government. If they wait for a detected case, some people will die. If they go ahead and give the vaccine ahead of time, some people will die and others will get very sick, and the government will be still be accused of of ignorance and/or not caring. Especially if they do it and no attack ever materializes.