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Smallpox Vaccination The Comal County Office of Public Health is working with the Center for Disease Control and the Texas Department of Health to strengthen the ability of its local office to quickly and effectively implement voluntary, large-scale vaccination clinics in the case of a smallpox outbreak.
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178 E. Mill St, New Braunfels, Texas 78130 Phone: 830-221-1150
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Smallpox Vaccination From the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta: "Smallpox was eradicated from our planet in 1980; however, there are concerns that the smallpox virus could be used for Bioterrorism. Strategies are under development to protect the American public should this disease be brought back as a Bioterrorism weapon. The risk for smallpox occurring as a result of a deliberate release by terrorists is not known, but is considered very low."
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The Comal County Office of Public Health is working with the Center for Disease Control and the Texas Department of Health to strengthen the ability of its local office to quickly and effectively implement voluntary, large-scale vaccination clinics in the case of a smallpox outbreak. IF a confirmed smallpox outbreak occurred in the United States, local public health would work tosupplement surveillance and control activities and address the increased public or political concerns regarding vaccination. The CDC, along with the Department of Health and Human Services, has released a Smallpox Vaccination Clinic Guide that is being used to plan the local response. Local public health officials have met with Comal County and New Braunfels governmental officials, local health care providers, and volunteer organizations to plan our local response. All entities in attendance have been extremely helpful in this collaborative effort. Using the CDC and TDH guidelines, the local public health officials are guiding the effort to be prepared. The Smallpox Vaccination Clinic Guide includes: Plans for distribution of 286 million doses of smallpox vaccine. This stockpile would be enough to protect every United States citizen, if needed. Logistical considerations for large-scale, post-event smallpox vaccination clinics. Example of a large-scale vaccination clinic with personnel estimates. Logistics for administration of the smallpox vaccine. At this time, the vaccine is NOT available for the general population, but manufacturers will have the 286 million doses available by the end of the year. Local planning is being conducted through the Comal County Office of Public Health. Through a grant from the Homeland Security Department, CDC, and the Texas Department of Health, the CCOPH has received funding for Bioterrorism Preparedness. These monies are being partially used to purchase the Call Back Notification System through the County and for expanding local public health infrastructure. To accomplish this, a Public Health Nurse-Bioterrorism Planner has been hired by the local department to work with Public Health and Emergency Management to prepare for any BT event. Just as in any emergency preparedness concern, we want to be ready, but certainly hope that we will not have to implement the plan.
Comal County Office of Public Health 178 E. Mill Street, Suite 210 830-221-1150 For more information, go to the Centers for Disease Control website:
www.cdc.gov or Comal County website: www.co.comal.tx.us
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