• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Deploying troops to receive smallpox shot

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 1/15/2004

Story by Sgt. Valerie A. Martinez

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. (Jan. 15, 2004) -- MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. - A recently-released Marine Administrative Message directs service members scheduled for deployment to Iraq to receive another vaccination.

Under MARADMIN 002/04, Headquarters Marine Corps authorized the administration of the Smallpox Vaccination Program to troops supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

The message requires all Marine Corps forces and support personnel deploying to the United States Central Command area of operations to receive the smallpox vaccination prior to deploying. Individual augmentees, reserve component personnel and Marines at entry-level schools with follow-on orders to a deployed or deploying OIF II unit are also expected to receive the vaccine.

Female Marines that may be pregnant should undergo a pregnancy screening prior to receiving the vaccination and should avoid becoming pregnant for at least four weeks following inoculation.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee, said the vaccine will aid in protecting personnel and preserving "combat effectiveness in the event of a biological attack. While the threat of a biological attack cannot be quantified, the vaccination of our forces remains the most effective countermeasure. Comprehensive unit education is the cornerstone of a safe and successful vaccination program."

The smallpox inoculation causes a distinct reaction and will form a red blister at the vaccination site. Within a few days the blister should turn white and scab over, showing successful vaccination. The MARADMIN states service members must be evaluated by a medical examiner within six to eight days after receiving the smallpox vaccination "to ensure a good vaccine take and to evaluate for any adverse reactions."

According to the Defense Department's Small Pox Vaccination Program Web site, www.small-pox.army.mil, "most people experience normal, usually mild, reactions, such as swollen lymph nodes, sore arm, fever, headache, body ache and fatigue. These symptoms may peak three to 12 days after vaccination."

Defense Department officials stated the disease "is contagious, deadly and uncurable" which makes vaccination important for troops deploying to high-threat overseas locations.

Smallpox is caused by the variola virus and is spread by direct and fairly prolonged face-to-face contact with a contagious person or contact with infected skin, bodily fluids or inanimate objects such as sheets and towels.

There is no established method of treatment for the disease, and patients diagnosed with smallpox can only receive medications to control the pain and fever.