[NVIC] Why US Health Workers Refused Smallpox Vaccine

[Guest guest]

E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org

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UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#8122

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" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

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BL Fisher Note:

Who knows vaccination risks better than those who give vaccinations and see

vaccine reactions first-hand? Health care workers of America are not going

to roll up their sleeves for smallpox or flu vaccine or any other vaccine

unless the CDC finds a way to FORCE them to do it just like children are

being FORCED to get more than 3 dozen doses of vaccines. Parents who have

witnessed vaccine reactions in their children up close are not surprised by

this study's finding: most health care workers refused smallpox vaccine

after Sept. 11 bioterrorism hype because they determined the theoretical

benefits did not outweigh the very real risks. This was not a failure to

communicate.... or compensate. It was a failure to prognosticate.

American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2006 Mar;30(3):258-65.

Healthcare workers who elected not to receive smallpox vaccination.

Wortley PM, Schwartz B, Levy PS, Quick LM, B, Burke B.

National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Atlanta, Georgia.

BACKGROUND: The goal of the National Smallpox Vaccination Program was to

vaccinate a cadre of healthcare workers and first responders who could care

for smallpox patients in the event of an attack. METHODS: Using a

convenience sample of health departments (n=49) and hospitals (n=60) in five

states, we conducted a telephone interview between July 2003 and April 2004

of healthcare workers and first responders who chose not to receive smallpox

vaccination. (Data were analyzed in 2004 and 2005.)

RESULTS: The response rate was 63%. Of 1895 respondents, 723 (38.2%)

reported having a contraindication, 280 (14.8%) reported being

contraindicated because of a household member's condition, and 892 (47.0%)

reported having no contraindication to smallpox vaccination. Among

respondents with no contraindication, the leading reasons for nonvaccination

were concerns about side effects (20.6%) and not feeling that the risk of

outbreak was high enough (19.5%). More than half (54.8%) were somewhat or

very concerned about having an adverse reaction to the vaccine; Hispanics,

blacks, and Asians were significantly more likely than whites to be somewhat

or very concerned about side effects. Less than one fifth (17.9%) reported

that there was a policy to financially compensate employees who developed

side effects from vaccination, and 40.7% reported that there was a policy to

provide liability coverage to employees who transmitted vaccinia to a

patient.

CONCLUSIONS: Many people who chose not to receive smallpox vaccine perceived

their personal risk-benefit balance as not favoring vaccination. The success

of future smallpox vaccination efforts or vaccination against other

bioterrorist health threats depends on addressing potential barriers to

participation including compensation and liability issues, in addition to

clearly communicating risks and benefits.

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