small pox

@hemvaish (105)
India
February 7, 2007 12:23am CST
In India, we still have to vaccinate childred (less than 5 years) for small pox. Whether this is also done in other countries. Hemant
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1 response
@lauriefnp (5109)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I thought that the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that Smallpox was eradicated officially throughout the entire world in the 1980's and that vaccines are no longer given routinely in any country. The only smallpox that exists anywhere in the world is secured in laboratories. The concern a few years ago was that this laboratory virus would be utilized as germ warfare, causing a worldwide pandemic. Thus, the vaccine has been manufactured and stockpiled in several developed nations, but people are not routinely immunized. In the U.S., I believe that the military are the only people who receive the vaccine. I would be interested to know for sure why India is vaccinating everyone, especially since there is no smallpox in the world. The vaccine is not without side effects, and WHO has determined that it does not need to be given. Unless I am missing something. I did a quick Internet search for recent outbreaks and found nothing. Do you have any other information about this? I am extremely interested in world health policies.
@hemvaish (105)
• India
8 Feb 07
Thanks for responding, i will certainly inform you shortly thanks once again Hemant