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Science 21 February 2003:
Vol. 299. no. 5610, p. 1163
DOI: 10.1126/science.299.5610.1163c
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ScienceScope

Some state epidemiologists are urging the U.S. government to temporarily halt its smallpox vaccination program so that researchers can evaluate adverse effects. But officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) don't see any reason to pause.

The debate flared last week at a Washington, D.C., meeting of an Institute of Medicine panel that is reviewing a plan to vaccinate 450,000 health and safety workers, with up to 10 million more to follow (Science, 24 January, p. 486). Few problems have been reported in the initial batch of 1000 people, a number expected to grow dramatically later this month.

New Jersey and Georgia state epidemiologists say they don't have enough information, however, to take that step. But Joe Henderson, CDC's associate director of terrorism preparedness, says public health experts know enough to move ahead. The military has vaccinated more than 100,000 soldiers, with only three suffering serious side effects. Another 3% lost at least 1 day of work due to fever or milder symptoms.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)