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CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN SMALLPOX VACCINE
Washington, DC---As the Bush Administration implements the first stage of its smallpox vaccination plan, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) testified today before Congress that given the information currently available, the general public, particularly children, should not receive the vaccine prior to an outbreak.
"Unfortunately, the concept of a pre-event voluntary vaccination program for the public makes the least sense from a scientific and public health standpoint," said Jon S. Abramson, M.D., chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases, in testimony before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "The concept of voluntary vaccination is a misnomer. If the vaccine is made available to the general public, infants and children who don't get the vaccine could be unintentionally inoculated from a vaccinated adult. This could have serious consequences since we know children are particularly vulnerable to suffering complications from the vaccine."
Last year, the Academy announced support for the "ring vaccination" strategy that is an effective method for containing the disease, if it occurs, while minimizing risks. The Academy does recognize the need for select medical and emergency personnel to be vaccinated now in order to carry out their responsibilities to the public if any smallpox cases occur, but liability and compensation for adverse events from the vaccine still needs to be addressed.
"If I as part of the healthcare team suffer a serious adverse event from getting the vaccine, I am covered by my state workers' compensation program," said Dr. Abramson. "However, if I indirectly inoculate one of my children at home or a patient I am caring for in the hospital, and they develop a serious side effect, they are not covered."
The Academy urged Congress to enact a "no-fault" system to compensate those injured directly or indirectly by the smallpox vaccine. It could function in a way similar to the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program established in the mid-80s.
The AAP testimony also called for Congress to ensure that the smallpox vaccine is tested for use in children, similar to the testing required for other childhood vaccines.
"We don't even know if the vaccine is safe for use in children," Dr. Abramson said. "If a smallpox attack did occur are we really willing to let millions of children be part of an emergency experiment? We need to be prepared to help children at the time of an outbreak with an effective vaccine at the right dose. Congress can see to it that the necessary studies are done now."
From The American Academy Of Pediatrics
[I will be on vacation from March 16 to 24. So I have advanced the write-ups, Leo Leonidas, MD, FAAP, Editor & Writer]
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