ED Legal Letter – February 1, 2003
February 1, 2003
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Smallpox vaccine: Mandating risk to ward off an old enemy?
By implementing a national smallpox vaccination program on Dec. 13, 2002,1 President George W. Bush launched the first vaccination campaign undertaken in the interest of national security rather than public health.2 He also sparked public debate about a program that bears potential safety and risk implications for medical professionals, emergency personnel, and the public.