Smallpox Vaccination Campaign in the Doldrums.

The U.S. President George W. Bush Administration's ambitious plan to vaccinate between 5 million and 10 million citizens against smallpox has failed. Fewer than 35,000 people have received the vaccine and many states have halted vaccination waiting further guidance from the federal government. At a meeting of an Institute of Medicine panel, several state and local health officials sharply criticized the campaign and urged the government to cancel its small pox vaccination second phase, which has begun in only one state, Florida. The Administration spent months deliberating the magnitude of the preparedness campaign, unveiled on 13 December 2002. Up to 437,000 medical personnel expected to help contain an outbreak would be vaccinated within a month, starting in late January 2003, top Administration officials said at the time, followed by another 5 million to 10 million other medical personnel, law enforcement agents, and firefighters in the next few months. Separately, the Department of Defense revealed a plan to immunize about half a million armed services members. With 422,000 military personnel vaccinated, the latter goal is almost reached, says John Grabenstein, deputy director for military vaccines for the Army's surgeon general. Many expressed concern because even the modest first phase has drained resources and time from other public health programs.