If another terrorist attack or threat makes routine immunization necessary, would the U.S. be ready?
• There may be enough vaccine to immunize the entire U.S. population by the end of 2002. • Until recently, it was believed that the amount of vaccine available would be sufficient to immunize only a small fraction of the U.S. population. Currently, approximately 15 million doses of vaccine are stocked in a lyophilized frozen state by the CDC. New data suggest that the vaccine may be diluted at least 1:5 to 1:10 and still provide a satisfactory response. Additionally, about 85 million doses of concentrated smallpox vaccine put aside by Aventis Pasteur are being shipped to the CDC. • All of this vaccine, plus vaccine produced under recently signed government contracts, would be considered investigational, since U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of older vaccine has lapsed. This would limit the use of vaccine unless a disaster were declared.
Related Questions
- Why is it necessary to stop OPV use in routine immunization programmes, after the eradication of wild poliovirus?
- If another terrorist attack or threat makes routine immunization necessary, would the U.S. be ready?
- What can an individual do to help marginalize the threat of a possible terrorist attack?
