Eighteen Points You Should Consider

1. Smallpox is a serious disease and it would be great to prevent it. A very old vaccine exists, derived from the pustules of calf bellies inoculated with an old strain of-we think-a cowpox virus lost in antiquity. Edward Jenner came up with the idea of vaccination after realizing milk maids

An estimated 500,000 first responders, lab and hospital workers will receive smallpox vaccine, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced yesterday.

This is an interesting announcement, because to my knowledge there exist no FDA-licensed smallpox vaccines.

There are three vaccine candidates whose safety and efficacy are uncertain at this time.