November 13, 2002
Smallpox Vaccine: Good News and Bad News
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports good news and bad news about the results of a pilot study on the Smallpox vaccine carried out right here at St. Louis University. The good news is that it would appear diluted vaccine does confer an immune response in people who were vaccinated previously (the general public hasn't been vaccinated since 1972 in the US). Since there are only 15 million vaccine doses and more than 280 million Americans, that's good news. Some scientists worried that the old vaccination would confer enough of a response to require an even larger dose of the vaccine, let alone not allow a smaller dose to work. The bad news is that the old vaccination doesn't appear to provide an immune response after more than 30 years - 10 years is apparently the accepted length of time, so for all of us who were once routinely innoculated and have that weird looking scar to prove it, we have no increased immunity to smallpox. A larger study is now being started to determine just how diluted the vaccine should be. If you're worried and were once vaccinated, then call the Center for Vaccine Development at 314-977-6333 and see if you can sign up - although I warn you that people do have adverse repsonses to the vaccine (beyond the two weeks of a pus filled sore at the vaccination site).
Posted by Kevin Murphy at November 13, 2002 11:38 AM | ScienceLast night's Amazing Race: I have never seen a non-fictional character weep and whine (that inevitable description of Flo's only communication style) as pitiably --and as irritatingly-- over such a long time as did Flo. She may have the money now, but the world has seen her emotionally naked; what they have seen is psychological basket case, a high mainenance bozo, an idiot with zero social skills. What profit a woman if she gain the whole world, and look like a total drooling loser in front of 20 million viewers?
Posted by: Flo should get $5, Zach $999,995 plus damages. at December 19, 2002 08:35 AM
