Proposed state plan would vaccinate up to 8,350 workers

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State health officials are proposing to vaccinate up to 8,350 hospital and public health workers against smallpox if President Bush orders states to take preventive measures.

The state plan is under review by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, which would issue the vaccine doses to the state, Gov. Bob Holden said Wednesday. All states were asked to develop similar plans.

Even if the CDC approves Missouri's plan, the vaccines would not be administered unless President Bush requires states to implement their plans.

Missouri is proposing to provide smallpox vaccines to between 6,000 and 8,000 hospital staff and 350 public health workers -- those who would respond most directly to a smallpox outbreak.

The public health teams would be composed of medical epidemiologists, investigators and nurses. Three teams of 15 staff people would be vaccinated at each hospital, although no one would be forced to receive the vaccination.

The hospital teams would consist of physicians, nurses, emergency department staff and intensive care staff.

The teams also could include dermatologists, infectious disease specialists, pediatric specialists, pulmonary specialists and perhaps security and housekeeping personnel.

The vaccinations would be provided through public health agencies in St. Louis County, Butler County, Greene County, Boone County and Kansas City.

Routine vaccinations for smallpox ended in 1972. Smallpox is a virus that could be packaged as a biological weapon.