Date: March 20, 2003	Contact: Leslie Ridgeway (619) 685-2239

TWENTY-FIVE MORE COUNTY, HOSPITAL WORKERS RECEIVE VACCINE
Total of 72 Volunteers Inoculated As Part of Smallpox Vaccination Plan

The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency has inoculated 72 Public Health and hospital
workers as part of its Smallpox Vaccination Plan, which got underway with the first round of vaccinations on
Feb. 26.

A fourth round took place March 18, with 11 County Public Health Services (PHS) workers and 14 hospital workers volunteering to receive vaccinations. Hospital workers came from Alvarado Hospital, the VA Medical Center and Fallbrook Hospital. A total of 40 PHS workers and 32 hospital workers have been vaccinated.

Vaccinations of hospital and PHS workers are expected to continue through March and April. Additional hospitals are in the process of meeting certain requirements, which are expected to be met by the end of March.

These requirements include 24-hour medical care availability for volunteers who develop side effects, as well as identification of staff at each hospital facility who will check volunteers’ vaccination sites for proper bandage coverage before they start their work shifts.

Those who receive the vaccine must be carefully screened to ensure their safety.

The County received 200 doses (two vials) of vaccine from the state in early February.

Editor’s note: The San Diego Health and Human Services Agency will provide regular updates on smallpox vaccinations to local news media.