Lisa Salberg
04-08-2003, 09:48 AM
This was sent to the HCMA - I thought you may be interested in reading it.
March 25, 2003 - Temporary Deferral Recommended for Heart Patients
Volunteering for Smallpox Vaccination
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the precautionary
step of adding a temporary medical deferral to the smallpox
vaccination program for persons who have been diagnosed with heart
disease. CDC is investigating whether there is any association
between smallpox vaccination and reports of heart problems in seven
health care workers who have been vaccinated.
CDC added the temporary measure to the existing list of deferral
criteria based on information from its real-time monitoring system,
which showed a small number of heart-related incidents among health
care workers following smallpox vaccination. It is not clear whether
this number is greater than would be expected normally in this
population, CDC scientists said.
"We promised to closely monitor this program and to put safety
first, so we are exercising exceptional caution," said Julie
Gerberding, M.D., CDC director. "If our investigation shows this
precautionary measure should become permanent or the need for other
changes or enhancements in the civilian smallpox vaccination program,
we will take immediate action." "We continue to believe
that it is important and necessary to vaccinate health care workers
to prepare our nation in the event we have to respond to a smallpox
outbreak," Dr. Gerberding said.
CDC is recommending that persons with known cardiac disease - such as
cardiomyopathy, previous heart attack, history of angina, or other
evidence of coronary artery disease - be temporarily deferred from
receiving smallpox vaccination. CDC will provide states with simple
questions about heart problems to use in screening people
volunteering for smallpox vaccination.
In pursuing its promise of safety, last week CDC asked the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) Smallpox Vaccine Safety
Review Board to examine reports of heart-related adverse events
occurring in connection with the smallpox vaccination program. CDC is
also beginning research projects aimed at identifying and
understanding any associations that may exist between smallpox
vaccine and heart-related problems.
"A major part of our monitoring program involves regularly
sharing information about adverse events with experts such as those
on the ACIP. They can help assess whether the smallpox vaccine is,
indeed, associated with the medical conditions described in the
adverse event reports," said Walter Orenstein, M.D., director of
CDC's National Immunization Program.
CDC has received several reports of heart-related problems among the
25,645 people who have been vaccinated in the civilian program. The
seven cases prompting today's precautionary action include three
cases of myocardial infarction (heart attack), one of which resulted
in death; two cases of angina (chest pain); and two cases of
myopericarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle or sac surrounding
the heart). In each case the individual's medical history, including
risk factors for heart disease, is being studied.
Cases of heart inflammation following smallpox vaccination were
reported in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the information from these
reports does not provide any information about the types of people
who may be at higher risk for heart-related problems following
smallpox vaccination.
March 25, 2003 - Temporary Deferral Recommended for Heart Patients
Volunteering for Smallpox Vaccination
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took the precautionary
step of adding a temporary medical deferral to the smallpox
vaccination program for persons who have been diagnosed with heart
disease. CDC is investigating whether there is any association
between smallpox vaccination and reports of heart problems in seven
health care workers who have been vaccinated.
CDC added the temporary measure to the existing list of deferral
criteria based on information from its real-time monitoring system,
which showed a small number of heart-related incidents among health
care workers following smallpox vaccination. It is not clear whether
this number is greater than would be expected normally in this
population, CDC scientists said.
"We promised to closely monitor this program and to put safety
first, so we are exercising exceptional caution," said Julie
Gerberding, M.D., CDC director. "If our investigation shows this
precautionary measure should become permanent or the need for other
changes or enhancements in the civilian smallpox vaccination program,
we will take immediate action." "We continue to believe
that it is important and necessary to vaccinate health care workers
to prepare our nation in the event we have to respond to a smallpox
outbreak," Dr. Gerberding said.
CDC is recommending that persons with known cardiac disease - such as
cardiomyopathy, previous heart attack, history of angina, or other
evidence of coronary artery disease - be temporarily deferred from
receiving smallpox vaccination. CDC will provide states with simple
questions about heart problems to use in screening people
volunteering for smallpox vaccination.
In pursuing its promise of safety, last week CDC asked the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) Smallpox Vaccine Safety
Review Board to examine reports of heart-related adverse events
occurring in connection with the smallpox vaccination program. CDC is
also beginning research projects aimed at identifying and
understanding any associations that may exist between smallpox
vaccine and heart-related problems.
"A major part of our monitoring program involves regularly
sharing information about adverse events with experts such as those
on the ACIP. They can help assess whether the smallpox vaccine is,
indeed, associated with the medical conditions described in the
adverse event reports," said Walter Orenstein, M.D., director of
CDC's National Immunization Program.
CDC has received several reports of heart-related problems among the
25,645 people who have been vaccinated in the civilian program. The
seven cases prompting today's precautionary action include three
cases of myocardial infarction (heart attack), one of which resulted
in death; two cases of angina (chest pain); and two cases of
myopericarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle or sac surrounding
the heart). In each case the individual's medical history, including
risk factors for heart disease, is being studied.
Cases of heart inflammation following smallpox vaccination were
reported in the 1960s and 1970s. However, the information from these
reports does not provide any information about the types of people
who may be at higher risk for heart-related problems following
smallpox vaccination.