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Locals get smallpox inoculations
Published
March 09, 2003
By Michael Smith
Texas City Sun
Public health workers and nurses around the
county have begun receiving smallpox inoculations in the
first phase of a nationwide plan to defend against a possible
terrorist attack.
Kurt Koopman, risk communicator for the Galveston
County Health District, said district health workers started
receiving inoculations two weeks ago. Koopman did not have
the number of workers who have been inoculated up to this
point, but said there was the potential to vaccinate up
to 300 people. “We do have some people in the district who
have received the inoculations,” Koopman said.
Koopman said, at this point, the vaccinations
are voluntary. “No one is being made to take it,” he said.
Harold Fattig, director of business development
and marketing at Mainland
Medical Center,
said the hospital had planned to inoculate staff members,
but that plan had been stalled because of new information
from the federal government.
The Texas Department of Health is currently
giving vaccinations to nurses who will serve as a core group
trained to administer the vaccine to others.
Fattig said the hospital is not giving vaccinations
to residents. “We are not providing inoculations to the
general public,” Fattig said. Immunizations are not slated
to be given to the general public until 2004, according
to an information packet handed out at a recent Galveston
County Commissioner’s Court workshop.
In a press release put out by the health
district, executive director Dr. Mark Guidry said the vaccinations
in the county would be used to create a core of individuals
who would assist in vaccination efforts. “We have a responsibility
to the residents of Galveston County to protect them in the event
of a smallpox outbreak,” he said. “We know that the public
expects us to be prepared to respond to many public health
threats and we intend to meet those expectations.”
In addition to the core of nurses, the district
will respond to the threat of smallpox with two teams of
individuals designated to combat the appearance of the virus.
Health Care Response Teams will be stationed in participating
hospitals and will diagnose and treat possible or actual
cases of smallpox.
A Public Health Response Team comprised of nurses, physicians,
epidemiologists and other health care workers, will investigate
any possible smallpox cases and take measures to control
an outbreak. The vaccine, from the Center for Disease
Control, usually produces a mild reaction including a sore
arm, fever and body aches. One in three people may have
a moderate reaction and/or have trouble after vaccination.
In the past, one out of 100,000 people experience serious
reactions. Between 14 and 52 people per million experience
a life-threatening reaction. The vaccination will kill one
or two people per million treated.The first phase of vaccinations was originally
scheduled to be completed by the end of April.
Koopman said no dates have been set for
phase II and III. “The dates have not been finalized at
this point.”
For More Information Contact:
Kurt Koopmann
Public Information Officer
Galveston County Health District
(409) 938-2211
kkoopman@gchd.org
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