The State of Connecticut wanted to make a big statement as the first state to administer smallpox vaccination to health care personnel.

A high profile group dubbed "Genesis Team" of up to 20 top state health officials were prepared for a dramatic display before the media as each was to roll up sleeves and boldly take their medicine.

The media showed up in full force in a blaze of lights ready with cameras for action.

Three showed up for the smallpox vaccinations. The big premiere was a big bust.

Dominoes

Many hospitals throughout the country have opted out of the smallpox vaccination program.

The sprawling Cox Medical Center-South hospital complex has signs at every entrance noting that any who receive smallpox vaccinations may not enter the premises for fourteen days after vaccination.

The anti-vaccination movement will grow is the prediction of Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Assn.

Flap flip-flop?

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson is concerned about opposition to the vaccinations. He said he is trying to ease workers' concerns.

This is strange. Only weeks ago Thompson publicly said he is not getting the vaccine and recommended the same non-course of action for all others in his office, as well as all other cabinet level officials.

No word yet coming up on press time as to Thompson making a mad rush to get vaccinated on prime time television!

Even President Bush said he was not having his family vaccinated.

Thought to ponder

One small but very important detail left out of almost every single story about smallpox vaccination.

No sterilization is allowed.

How many of you can remember ever having had an injection of any kind without sterilization. The matter of sterilizing entry sites into the body is standard operating procedure whether putting something in your blood or taking your blood out.

Yet no sterilization is allowed for the smallpox vaccine. It nullifies the vaccine.

Word to the wise is sufficient?

One reader e-mailed me a very interesting anecdote months ago.

Decades ago her father was required to get a smallpox vaccination for a job with the railroad. He knew better than to get vaccinated but needed a job very badly to care for his family.

He hurried home after the vaccination as quick as he could and thoroughly washed the vaccine site with hydrogen peroxide.

Two weeks later his arm was inspected for the telltale scar that assures the poison potion had done its deed. Officials were unable to find the scar and told the man he would have to be vaccinated again.

The man pointed to the place on his arm where the poisoned pin had originally penetrated. He repeated over and again, "Look, don't you see it, right there?"

He got the job that day WITHOUT any further inoculation.