Smallpox vaccination plan delayed

Tuesday, April 1, 2003 | 8:18 a.m.

Nevada on Monday became one of nine states suspending a voluntary smallpox vaccination program while federal health officials investigate side effects.

The delay was prompted by the deaths of three people of heart attacks after they were inoculated in other states.

Although the Clark County Health District is prepared to respond to a smallpox or other bioterrorism attacks, Chief Health Officer Dr. Donald Kwalick said, vaccinating volunteers has been postponed because of possible links to heart disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommended on Monday that people with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol or who smoke not submit to the vaccine, although it said the three deaths are probably not linked to the inoculations.

The Nevada State Health Division had ordered 1,500 doses of smallpox vaccine, division administrator Yvonne Sylva said, to protect health care workers who might be exposed to the disease in an incident.

"In light of these new developments we felt the most prudent course of action would be to delay implementing the vaccination program until more information is available," Kwalick said.

About 25 Health District employees had volunteered to take the vaccine, spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said.

With a disease such as smallpox a person can be effectively immunized after exposure, Kwalick said.

"We have plans in place that would allow us to mobilize and prepare our staff to respond to an outbreak," he said.