NH officials plan to vaccinate 200 medical professionals against smallpox.
When the White House gives the word, and the federal Centers for Disease Control sends out the vaccine stockpiles, 200 New Hampshire doctors, nurses, and other emergency personnel will be inoculated.
The plan, submitted on Monday, focuses on those who?d treat victims of a smallpox outbreak or bio-terrorist attack.
State Medical Director William Kassler says the plan is flexible and evolving based on feedback from the Feds.
KASSLER 135/:11 we requested 3000 doses. We plan a first phase with several hundred individuals. We?re going to see how that works out, gain experience, prioritize those individuals who have key roles in outbreak investigation and clinical care.
The smallpox vaccine is more complicated and involved than other vaccines ? it?s more than just a shot and it can cause serious side effects and even death in some cases.
For that reason, it?s not recommended for people with certain conditions: including eczema, immune system problems, and cancer ? and also their family members.
Scientists think people who were vaccinated prior to 1972 have only partial immunity. If there were an outbreak of smallpox, 30 percent of those infected would die.
But Manchester public health officer Fred Rusczek (roo-shek) says doctors and nurses are eager to help.
Rusczek 84/:20 We sought volunteers from providers in community we were overwhelmed with the number of folks who are willing to be vaccinated and provide vaccinations to others. So Manchester is pretty well set in its response.
Federal authorities asked state officials to plan their response in stages. The plan released today calls for one vaccine clinic and focuses on the first medical responders.
A second stage would inoculate other emergency workers ? firemen, paramedics, law enforcement, and Hazmat workers.
As of yet, Washington hasn?t asked the states to plan for further vaccinations. But Kassler says New Hampshire is ready.
KASSLER 137/:38 we have a plan in place to develop staging areas, go out into communities and have 25 vaccine clinics spread out throughout state that the public would be able to access to get their smallpox vaccine. A plan for immunizing 1.2 million NH residents in 10 days.
The smallpox vaccine would be voluntary. Kassler says the plan builds upon the state?s existing public health resources: hospitals and family doctors who keep an eye out for all sorts of communicable diseases.
For NHPR News, I?m RMD.
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