Over the last seven months, much effort has gone toward preventing the reintroduction of the smallpox vaccine to the world, but to no avail. Despite extensive information in the popular press dissuading its use and warning of its complications, we are going to vaccinate.

Despite President Bush's admission that "our government has no information that a smallpox attack is imminent," we are going to vaccinate. Despite the fact that the CDC's own historical documents show that mass vaccination doesn't work, we are going to vaccinate. And we are starting with the military and first responders.

These initial vaccinees will be the "trial balloons" for vaccinating the rest of us. Side effects and complications reported by these "volunteers" will be monitored closely and reported nationwide. We can only hope that these reports will contain full disclosure of the serious side effects and will record the total number of occurrences.

However, determining the level of accuracy reported to the press may be difficult. We will need to be vigilant and skeptical: suppression of vaccine side effect data has been well documented. Case in point: our military was used as "volunteers" for the anthrax vaccine and reports of the numerous injuries were summarily suppressed.

Side effect records are critically important documents. It is easy to postulate that mass vaccination will commence, sooner rather than later, if fewer-than-anticipated side effects are reported.

But regardless of the seriousness or the actual number of side effects, if a suspected "outbreak" occurs-anywhere in the world-all bets are off as to what our government will force upon us. And if either the smallpox or the vaccinia virus has been weaponized (genetically combined with any number of other biological weapons), all bets are off as to the protective value of the vaccine.

Since Bush's announcement on December 13, I have had the opportunity to share these points nationwide through many newspaper and radio interviews. The myths surrounding the smallpox vaccine cannot be over stated. Don't believe what the media is telling you about smallpox or about the smallpox vaccine.

Smallpox Myths, Exposed

There is unfounded fear rising in the United States over a possible smallpox outbreak. This fear is being fueled by misinformation and outlandish rumors. The following article lists several common misconceptions about the smallpox virus along with evidence to refute them.

1. Smallpox is highly contagious.

"The infection is spread by droplet contamination. Coughing and sneezing are not generally part of the infection. Smallpox will not spread like wildfire." Walter A. Orenstein, MD, Director of the CDC's National Immunization Program (NIP), CDC meeting June 20, 2002.

2. Smallpox is spread by casual contact.

"Transmission of smallpox occurs only after intense personal contact, defined by the CDC as constant exposure, occurring within 6-7 feet, for a minimum of 6-7 days." Joel Kuritsky, MD, Director of the National Immunization Program and Early Smallpox Response and Planning at the CDC. Am. J. Epid. 1971; 91:316-326. (For more from Dr. Kuritsky, see below.)

3. The death rate from smallpox is 30 percent.

Case fatality rate in adults was "much lower than generally advertised" and closer to 10 percent to 15 percent in adults. "Even without mass vaccination, smallpox would have died out anyway. It just would have taken longer." Dr. Tom Mack, USC, CDC meeting June 20, 2002

In 1900, 21,064 smallpox cases were reported, and 894 patients died -- that is 4.2 percent. MMWR. Achievements in Public Health, 1900-1999 Impact of Vaccines Universally Recommended for Children -- United States, 1990-1998. April 02, 1999/48(12);243-248

4. The smallpox vaccine is necessary to protect us from biological warfare.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) lists 65 known biological warfare agents and an infinite number of organisms that can be created through genetic engineering. If we vaccinate against smallpox [and anthrax], an enemy could easily pick a different microorganism for use.

Dr. Kuritsky, the CDC's director of the Preparedness and Early Smallpox Response Activity for the National Immunization Program, dispels other smallpox misconceptions:

1. "When people develop the smallpox prodrome, they are sick; they will be in bed and not out walking around [therefore their exposure to the general public would be limited]."

2. "Transmission through bed clothing contamination is extremely rare. The virus is NOT spread in food or water."

3. "Contagiousness can be 'interrupted' by the use of a properly fitted, filtered respiratory mask with an NIOSH rating of N95 or better. [Therefore, a properly fitted mask will provide a very high level of protection]."

More information on smallpox is at: http://www.vaclib.org/ basic/ smallpoxindex.htm