CDC to Destroy Oldest Smallpox Vaccine

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer, Medicine & Health / Other

(AP) -- The government announced Friday that it has said goodbye to one of the world's greatest lifesavers - the oldest smallpox vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month made arrangements to dispose of the last of its 12 million doses of Dryvax, and notified other health departments and the military to do the same by Feb. 29.

Content from The Associated Press expires 15 days after original publication date. For more information about The Associated Press, please visit www.ap.org .

ť Next Article in Medicine & Health - Other: Recall Made After Pills Reported in Fish

would you recommend this story?

User Rating

3.9 out of 5 after 16 total votes

not at all
1
2
3
4
5
highly

Leave a Comment or

Flag

Posted by rocyahsoul 03/02/08 09:06

Rank: 2/5 after 1 vote

www.lamegame.name]www.lamegame.name[/url] author Daniel Vincent Kelley says:

It seems this is long over due, there having been no small pox observed since 1980, it's a wonder why the adults in 2003 were being 'vaccinated' against it in any case...

Daniel Vincent Kelley
Author of Health and Policy Analysis Blog:
www.lamegame.name]www.lamegame.name[/url]

Flag

Posted by barakn 03/02/08 15:58

Rank: 4/5 after 1 vote

Because there are (or were) smallpox samples in the former Soviet Union which could fall into the wrong hands. And because the smallpox virus could be recreated from its published genetic code even if every last smallpox virus was destroyed.

Flag

Posted by NeilFarbstein 03/03/08 18:56

Rank: 1/5 after 1 vote

people1; small pox 0