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March 7, 2003
Contact: Bonnie Widerburg (503) 731-4180 Technical contact: Maria Sistrom (503) 731-4024 Smallpox vaccine arrives in Oregon; health workers to be vaccinated Oregon has received four vials of smallpox vaccine from federal authorities, to be used to vaccinate up to 800 health workers in the state, public health officials at the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) said today. “We received the vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today,” said Grant Higginson, state public health officer in DHS. “The fact that the vaccine is now here puts us a step closer to vaccinating health workers around the state.” Three vaccination clinics, one each in the Portland metropolitan area, Southern Oregon and Central Oregon are tentatively scheduled to begin later this month. Some health workers will need to travel to these clinic locations to ensure statewide coverage, Higginson said. Higginson says liability issues and workers compensation issues still need to be ironed out before vaccinations start. In addition, DHS plans to hold a practice clinic this month. “ Doing a practice run-through will help us be sure that when we start giving actual shots, we are fully prepared and can be as efficient as possible.” Higginson said. “The smallpox vaccination process requires intensive pre-screening, a longer informed consent procedure, and the actual vaccination process is more complex than a simple shot.” The up to 800 public health and health-care workers to be vaccinated will become members of Oregon’s Smallpox Response Team. All vaccinations are voluntary, Higginson says. “About 100 public health workers will be ready to immediately investigate a suspected case of smallpox anywhere in the state,” Higginson says. “And 700 health care workers in hospitals around Oregon will be able to safely care for smallpox patients, assist in investigative work and vaccinate others against the disease, “ says Higginson. In December, Oregon submitted two plans to the CDC, one for vaccinating healthcare workers in preparation for a possible smallpox outbreak and one for mass vaccination if a case should ever occur. Currently, smallpox vaccination is not advised for members of the general public. Additional information about smallpox and smallpox vaccine is on the DHS Web site. |
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