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CDC Begins Shipping Smallpox Vaccine to the States
Interview with Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, CDC
January 22, 2003
1. CDC's immediate goal is to begin vaccinating the smallpox response
teams as quickly, and as safely, as we possibly can. Protecting the public
is our core business and safety is our highest priority.
3. We are living in a climate of uncertainly and that includes the threat
of a possible biological attack with smallpox. CDC fully supports President
Bush's decision to vaccinate smallpox response teams. We believe this is the
best way to protect our nation should an attack occur.
4. The President based his decision on the fact that we live in a
dangerous world. A smallpox attack is not imminent but it is a threat and we
must be prepared.
5. Smallpox is a very serious disease that is spread from person to
person and it has a very high mortality rate. The vaccine we're using for
this program is the same vaccine we used to eradicate natural smallpox
disease.
