There have been 45 people with serious side effects in the Phase I smallpox vaccination program through 4/24/03 according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

No longer is the CDC citing concern about serious reactions of 14 per million as they did last year. That figure was the official party line based upon actual CDC scientific studies.

CDC is also no longer citing the 40 per million figure that suddenly was put forth more than two months ago when the reactions were more than twice expected at that time.

Now only the even more recent 52 per million figure pulled seemingly out of thin air is being reported.

45 reactions is more than the 40 figure that was previously put forth, and is much more than the number of 14 originally reported from scientific studies. However, 45 is less than 52 so now only the latter number is being used.

Can't we get a straight answer?

Those 45 serious side effects have been out of less than 34,000 vaccinations. That works out to more than 1,300 serious side effects per million!

1,300 is a whole, heaping portion more than 52, and is almost 100 times as many as the actual 14 per million originally reported last year as a great concern.

Another 369 people of the small number of vaccinated individuals so far have reported other side effects according to the same CDC report.

One major news service reported that the vaccine virus "is known to cause inflammation of the heart muscle and lining" yet ended the same article "it has never before been linked to heart problems". Can the virus both be known and also never before known to cause problems in the heart?

More problems

Reuse of a used smallpox vaccination needle has been verified.

A federal report noted that CDC sent confusing advice to the states and cities.

Screening procedure failures are also being noted with greater frequency as time passes.

More than 100 pregnant women have been vaccinated even though federal guidelines strictly forbid that. The vaccine can cause fetal damage and death.

A study just out this week notes that more than 40% of adults and up to 30% of children with dermatitis would not be screened out in spite of federal guidelines.

Numbers not adding up

The original federal program had a goal of 450,000 health care workers to be vaccinated in the first 30 days. Much less than 10 per cent of that figure has been arrived at after more than 90 days.

Yet problems are increasing faster and in greater proportions than the smallpox vaccinations are increasing.

The Phase I program has fallen far short of its vaccination goal. However, the side effects have far exceeded the concerns expressed before the program began.

Dumb and dumber?

The Phase I program has been a resounding flop. So what is the federal response? The Phase II program is now being pressed forward. That is where 10 million officials are proposed to be vaccinated.

Does that seem like a pretty dumb response from federal officials? Would those who follow after such a response be even dumber?

Not so dumb?

States such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Colorado received 10,000 doses of smallpox vaccine in Phase I but had less than 100 people get vaccinated.

International Association of Fire Fighters spokesman George Burke noted that when New York health officials tried to offer smallpox vaccine to its members, "our local union put the kibosh on it".

Dr. Russell Alexander of the University of Washington and a member of an Institute of Medicine federal panel said of the federal smallpox vaccination plan that it was "not being driven by science but by political considerations".

Throwing good money after bad?

The Bush administration has just this week sent $100 million to the states for smallpox vaccination programs. Congress has approved almost $1 billion for the states to push inoculation programs.

Dr. Franklyn Judson of the Denver public health department recently asked a question.

"Isn't it time to make a strong statement that there is no credible threat and work toward ending this vaccination campaign before further physical and financial harm are done?"

What do you think?