Discussion>>>Should the average U.S. citizen be vaccinated for smallpox???

[Larry_OHF]

I just read this report...that the President has been wondering if and how to vaccinate America from the Smallpox disease. If no vaccinations are given, and a break-out was to occur...alot of people could and will die. If he vaccinates the doctors and military and other officials that would be most likely exposed to the risk of getting the disease...a few people / million will die from the complications of the vaccine.

Regular citizens will have the option at this point, to be vaccinated or not.

You know...I really do not know what to do for me and my family. Should I allow my 2 year old and my wife to receive the vaccine, knowing that there is a small chance of something going wrong? Do I not do anything, hope we never need it, and take my chances with fate? It appears that people who suffer the disease, and are lucky enough to live...are not the lucky ones at all, as they remain disabled and disfigured afterwards. It would probably be better to die.

I just want to know from my friends here...what will you do?

[Ronn_Bman]

A 1 out of 1,000,000 chance for side effects translates to pretty good odds.

I think you'd be much more likely to die from anesthesia or a reaction to prescription medication than from the small pox vaccine. Like you, I'm from the generation in which you had to have it, and I don't remember anything about any reactions.

I'm just not sure there is a need to be vaccinated now, and even if there were some sort of attack, the vaccine is effective within 4 days of infection, so it could be used as a cure after the fact.

Again, I'm not sure it's necessary, but I wouldn't hesistate to have it done.

[ 11-26-2002, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

[WillowIX]

This is a very tough decision. IIRC it´s 1 death/million. But this is statistics and does not really offer any advice. I can´t give you any advice on this but I can give you some additional information. I would suggest visiting CDC´s and WHO´s sites. [img]smile.gif[/img]
CDC - http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5010a1.htm
WHO - http://www.who.int/emc/diseases/smal...qsmallpox.html

[Morgeruat]

it's a tough call Larry, personally I'd get it even if i weren't in the military, but I'd leave the choice up to RevRuby as to whether or not she wanted to get it, and we'd have to discuss whether the kids would get it...

It's sad that a disease that for all intents and purposes was wiped off the earth is being used as a threat like this...

I was vacinated as a child, everyone I knew and grew up with had been vacinated, none of us had any problems from the vacination, none of us ever heard of any problem with the vacination. It wasn't untill mass media started publishing and sensationalizing each and every hiccup in the country that things got weird.

[ 11-26-2002, 09:39 AM: Message edited by: MagiK ]

[Sir Kenyth]

I've been vaccinated a total of three times in my life. Once as a child, once when I enlisted, and once before going to the gulf war. I've had over a dozen vaccinations for all kinds of exotic dieases. One or two gave me a nasty local reaction that incapacitated my arm with swelling and soreness, but that's it. I'm a firm beleiver in vaccines. I can't remember if my son got a smallpox vaccine or not. I'm going to see about getting him immunized.

[Bruce The Aussie]

Like Sir Kenyth i belive in having all these vacinations. though, there is one big reason i haven't had many vacinations. i've got ME. meaning even if i didn't get any nasty side effects, i'd still get really tired. wich is bad. [img]tongue.gif[/img]