DoD Details Military Smallpox Vaccination Program
NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 634-02
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2002
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
DOD DETAILS MILITARY SMALLPOX VACCINATION PROGRAM
The Department of Defense today highlighted its plan to prepare for and respond to possible smallpox attacks against
servicemembers. The Smallpox Vaccination Program is consistent with FDA guidelines and the best practice of medicine.
This program supports the national smallpox preparedness plans announced by the President, but is tailored to the unique
requirements of the Armed Forces. Like civilian communities, DoD will ensure preparedness by immunizing personnel based
on their occupational responsibilities. These include smallpox response teams and hospital and clinic workers. DoD will
proceed to vaccinate other designated forces having critical mission capabilities. DoD will use existing FDA-licensed
smallpox vaccine. Like other vaccinations this will be mandated for designated personnel unless they are medically
exempted.
"The Department of Defense is establishing a smallpox vaccination program to protect the health and safety of military
personnel. Smallpox is a serious infectious disease. We cannot quantify the threat of it being used as a bioweapon; we
know the consequences of its use could be great," said William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health
affairs. "Vaccinating servicemembers before an attack is the best way to ensure that our troops are protected and that
they can continue their missions if a smallpox outbreak occurs."
Smallpox is caused by a virus called variola, which spreads from person to person through prolonged close contact.
Smallpox can cause a severe rash covering the whole body that can leave permanent scars, high fever, severe headache or
backache. Smallpox kills about three out of 10 people infected.
In the United States, routine vaccination against smallpox ended around 1972. In May 1980, the World Health Organization
declared the global eradication of smallpox as a naturally occurring disease and recommended that all countries cease
vaccination. Military smallpox vaccination programs continued longer. In 1984, routine military vaccinations were
limited to recruits entering basic training. This practice was discontinued in 1990. In the wake of the terrorist
attacks of September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax letter attacks, the Department of Defense reassessed the threat
of a smallpox attack. The resumption of a smallpox vaccination program is intended to ensure that the military can
achieve its missions in case smallpox is used as a bioweapon. DoD continues to work closely with the Department of
Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be prepared to protect the nation in the
event of a smallpox outbreak.
Further information regarding the Department of Defense smallpox vaccination program can be found at http://www.vaccines.army.mil/smallpox.asp
ENDS