CWA Cites Flaws in Smallpox Inoculation Plan

In a letter to President Bush, CWA President Morton Bahr outlined serious concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the plan to inoculate health care, public safety and other civilian professionals against smallpox and called for a delay in the vaccination effort.

Bahr cited inadequate safeguards for workers, including a lack of information about the risks of vaccination. There is no plan to monitor, treat and assist vaccine recipients or their families who may suffer ill effects from exposure to the live virus.

The 100,000 public and health care workers represented by CWA and others "want very much to participate in the defense of our nation against those who without reason seek to harm us," Bahr said. Delaying the program is a small price to pay for ensuring its safety and effectiveness, he said.

Also missing from the national plan is coverage for lost compensation and benefits and ongoing medical care for those injured by the vaccine, Bahr said. "Frontline workers in the fight against terrorism should not be required to shoulder the economic risk" posed by the vaccine, he said.

The Centers for Disease Control have projected that as many as 42 of every 1 million people inoculated will suffer severe side effects from the vaccine and one or two of every 1 million vaccinated will die. "These are severe consequences that without proper preparation could very well create more problems than the program is designed to solve," Bahr wrote.

Other unions representing health care and public safety workers also have called for a delay or review of the vaccination program.