Smallpox vaccine troubles spark local fears

Area health-care providers are mixed about whether to ask their employees to be inoculated with the smallpox vaccine after reports surfaced of a possible connection to heart-related problems.

St. Francis Medical Center is the most notable local example where the growing list of risks, side effects and questions -- including the death of three health-care workers in other places -- has made an impact. The hospital has decided not administer the shots to employees at this time.

"Right now, there are more questions than answers," said Steven Bjelich, the hospital's president and CEO. "New concerns over people at risk for heart disease have come up in the past few weeks because of several deaths that may be associated with the vaccine."

Southeast Missouri Hospital, however, is still on schedule to receive the vaccine with the next wave of shots, but the timeline is at the discretion of the state.

"The hospital has been, and will continue to be supportive of federal and state smallpox vaccination programs," said Chuck Keppler, director of human resources and also the hospital's safety officer. "We think it's the right thing to do for the country and the community."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week alerted the nation's health officials to cases of heart attack, chest pain and myopericarditis -- the inflammation of the heart muscle -- in some people who had received the vaccine. Eight states have suspended their programs.

The CDC is studying the heart attack deaths of three health-care workers and cardiac problems in 15 other medical professionals elsewhere in the country. The agency recommends that people with heart disease defer inoculation pending an investigation.

Some area workers already have been given the shot as part of the first phase.

The eight staff members at the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center who received the vaccine two months ago have felt no effects, said assistant director Jane Wernsman.

Wernsman said the nurses are aware of the concerns being voiced in other places, but she hasn't heard them voice fears that they may develop heart problems.

She said the nurses who got the shot "felt pretty comfortable" about getting the vaccine because they went over the potential complications.

Pam Walker, director of the Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said most of the first wave of shots have already been given to health-care workers. One clinic in Columbia, Mo., has opted to put off getting the shots.

She said the decision of the Columbia clinic and St. Francis Medical Center is "very understandable."

"There's no reason for people to take risks right now," she said. "We have enough people vaccinated to respond if there were a case."

Missouri has vaccinated 1,186 people, including public health employees, hospital workers and a few members of the FBI and state highway patrol.

She said if the CDC's investigation clears up the relationship between the heart problems and the vaccine, the second phase of those to be vaccinated -- first-emergency responders such as police, fire and ambulance workers -- still could take place this fall as scheduled.

Cape Girardeau's police and fire chiefs said they would leave it up to their personnel to decide whether or not they wanted to get vaccinated.

"Would I do it? Probably," said Cape Girardeau police chief Steve Strong. "But as far as I'm concerned, it's a volunteer thing. Those who want to can, and those who don't want to don't have to."

Interim Cape Girardeau fire chief Mark Hasheider said firefighters also will be allowed to take the vaccine, but only if they want to.

Meanwhile, how to compensate people injured or killed by the smallpox vaccinations has federal lawmakers divided over the amount each person should get.

A U.S. Senate committee approved legislation Wednesday along party lines. Democrats on the losing side of the vote promised a fight when the bill reaches the full Senate.

The bill, based on President Bush's plan, would provide $262,100 to those who are killed or totally and permanently disabled by the vaccine. People less severely injured could get up to $50,000 in lost wages, plus unpaid medical expenses.

The House defeated a nearly identical bill Monday, with some lawmakers saying the compensation was not generous enough. Democrats on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee made the same point Wednesday.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.