Bush is nearing a decision

Let me say that the very idea of being forced to wait on the government to allow an American to choose to protect him- or herself from smallpox spills my beer. I don't need to be cared for and protected by someone else. How I determine the level of my response to a threat is totally up to me and it pisses me off that we do not have the option of getting vaccinated if we want to. I'm aware of the risks and as long as others are aware of them, I say let us at the shots.

President Bush is moving toward approving a plan to eventually offer the smallpox vaccine to all Americans, starting with health care workers most likely to come into contact with a contagious patient, administration officials said Thursday.

He has not, however, signed off on key details or a final plan.

Bush is closer to a decision on shots for the military. Officials said he is inclined to approve a blueprint for vaccinating some U.S. troops against the disease, which was eradicated two decades ago but could return in biowarfare.

Bush's top bioterrorism aides agree that the vaccine should eventually be offered to the general public, and officials said Thursday that Bush is comfortable with that plan. At issue is how fast to move ahead.

A once-feared disease, smallpox historically killed 30 percent of its victims. The virus also could be a powerful weapon. It is highly contagious and has no known treatment. Routine vaccinations in the United States ended in 1972, making the population highly vulnerable to an attack.

But the vaccine, made from a live virus, is also dangerous. Health experts estimate that one or two of every million people vaccinated for the first time will die, and about 15 others will suffer life-threatening side effects.