29 October 2001
Text: U.N. Health Agency Advises Against Smallpox Vaccination Campaign
(WHO recommendation comes in response to bioterrorist threat) (740)
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises against a wide-scale
smallpox vaccination campaign unless individuals face a particular
risk of contracting the disease.
As bioterrorist attacks have stricken the United States, public health
officials in a number of countries have begun to consider whether
broad vaccination programs are warranted to protect populations
against likely bacterial threats that terrorists may attempt to
spread, such as smallpox.
In issuing the WHO advisory, Director General Dr. Gro Harlem
Brundtland said that the risks of the vaccine are too great to be used
when little or no threat exists. She suggested targeted vaccinations.
"The vaccines would be given to people who are at risk of exposure to
smallpox, including health and civil workers, and would be used in a
search and containment exercise should an outbreak occur," said
Brundtland in an October 26 WHO press advisory.
A WHO fact sheet on smallpox is available at
http://www.who.int/emc/diseases/smallpox/factsheet.html
The following text is available in French at
http://www.who.int/inf-pr-2001/en/state2001-16.html
Following is the text of the WHO press advisory:
(begin text)
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
26 October 2001
STATEMENT TO THE PRESS BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION, DR GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCES UPDATED GUIDANCE ON SMALLPOX
VACCINATION
GENEVA, 26 OCTOBER -- Following the review of guidance on smallpox
vaccination I announced last week, WHO has consulted with our advisory
committee and has updated the official guidance.
The conclusion of the review states that:
"Existing vaccines have proven efficacy but also have a high incidence
of adverse side-effects. The risk of adverse events is sufficiently
high that mass vaccination is not warranted if there is no or little
real risk of exposure. Individual countries that have reason to
believe that their people face an increased risk of smallpox because
of deliberate use of the virus are considering options for increasing
their access to vaccines. The vaccines would be given to people who
are at risk of exposure to smallpox, including health and civil
workers, and would be used in a search and containment exercise should
an outbreak occur."
In summary, the guidance is that vaccination of entire populations is
not recommended. The reason for not recommending such mass vaccination
is that there is a risk of severe reactions to the vaccine, including
death, and the fact that vaccination can prevent smallpox even after
exposure to the virus.
Up to now the guidance has also stated that only those with suspected
exposure to smallpox or a related virus should be vaccinated. That has
not changed.
What has changed is the increasing attention being given to the extent
and quality of existing vaccine stocks, and to the possible need both
to stimulate vaccine production and increase stocks of vaccine for use
in the event of an outbreak.
WHO confirms that the best method of stopping a smallpox outbreak,
should it occur, remains the same - search and containment. That means
identifying persons with smallpox, identifying those people who have
been in contact with them, and vaccinating them.
People who have been vaccinated in the past are unlikely to develop
the most serious effects of smallpox.
This advice and background information on smallpox is now being made
available to governments through the WHO website. Along with this
advice we are providing Frequently asked Questions and Answers about
smallpox and a smallpox Fact Sheet with an electronic slide set of
training materials on smallpox. Other information that will be
provided to Health Ministers on request includes a list of vaccine
manufacturers that have the potential to produce smallpox vaccine and
the names of laboratories that can diagnose smallpox. WHO has also
re-established a team of technical experts in smallpox who are
available to assist countries in the investigation and response to
outbreaks.
Finally, I want to emphasize that should an outbreak of smallpox be
detected in any country, this should be considered an international
emergency. WHO will help countries to pool available resources so as
to contain the disease as rapidly and effectively as possible.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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