Arkansas Receives 8,000 Smallpox Vaccine Doses

Little Rock --- The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) received a total of 8,000 doses of smallpox vaccine Thursday, February 6, 2003, in preparation for the voluntary vaccination of public health and hospital teams across the state.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began offering shipment of the vaccine in late January to individual states upon request. Arkansas placed its vaccine order January 29, requesting delivery for this week.

Vaccine shipments were offered following a directive from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the White House to implement Phase I of the smallpox pre-event plan. The federal directive was issued based on concerns that terrorists might use smallpox as a bioterroristic weapon. Naturally occurring smallpox was eradicated from the world in the 1970s.

The voluntary vaccinations will begin with ADH Director Fay Boozman, MD, and members of the statewide public health smallpox response team, on Wednesday, February 19, at 1:15 p.m. The vaccinations will be administered in the ADH auditorium at 4815 West Markham. Twenty-two clinics statewide will begin voluntary vaccinations of regional public health and hospital response teams during the week of February 24.

If an actual smallpox outbreak should occur, the public health response teams vaccinated in Phase I would respond by either providing vaccine, investigating potential cases or providing care to those infected.

 “Phase I will prepare us to vaccinate and care for smallpox patients in the unlikely event that smallpox would occur in the United States,” Donnie Smith, ADH Bioterrorism Preparedness Team leader, said. “Vaccination within three days of exposure will also prevent or reduce the severity of the disease in most people. Vaccination four to seven days after exposure also will offer some protection from the disease.”

There are no indications that the threat of smallpox is imminent. Phase I is strictly a precautionary measure.

“By vaccinating volunteers who would be initially called upon to respond to a smallpox outbreak, we are strengthening Arkansas’ ability to protect the health of the public,” Dr. Boozman said. “The vaccine is not recommended for the general public at this time since there is no known threat of smallpox.”

ADH has asked 79 acute care hospitals statewide to consider participating in the plan but will not know how many hospitals will participate until February 14.

“This is a voluntary program, and we respect the decision of some hospitals not to vaccinate during Phase I,” Smith said. “We are not concerned about ‘getting enough people vaccinated.’ Our goal is to get a limited number of people vaccinated during Phase I so we will have a core group of responders who can go into action immediately in the event of a smallpox attack. We believe we will be able to accomplish that.”

The CDC Public Response Service hotline with vital information for Arkansans is available at 888-246-2675 (English), 888-246-2857 (Español), or 866-874-2646 (TTY).

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MEDIA ALERT REMINDER

ADH will conduct a media briefing Thursday, February 13, 2003, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the ADH auditorium at 4815 West Markham St., Little Rock, in preparation for implementation of Phase I of the Smallpox Pre-Event Plan. Following is the briefing agenda:

1. Opening comments by Ann Wright, ADH external communications media director
   
2. Brief explanation of handouts by Bob Alvey, risk communications specialist
   
3. “Arkansas Pre-Event Smallpox Plan – Phase I,” by Donnie Smith Bioterrorism Preparedness Team Leader
   
4. “Smallpox – The Disease” by Dr. William Mason, MD
   
5. “The Smallpox Vaccine” by Dr. Sandra Snow, MD

1. Smallpox vaccine photo opportunity
   
6. “Smallpox Clinic Operation Plan”
7. February 19 press conference & first smallpox vaccinations overview
8. Meeting Media Needs – A partnership between the media and ADH

Media representatives are encouraged to attend and asked to RSVP by close of business on Monday, February 10. Please RSVP by either calling Pauline Rowbottom at 501-661-2984 or emailing her at prowbottom@healthyarkansas.com.