Posted on: Friday, February 21, 2003

Bad smallpox reaction reported

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Tripler Army Medical Center has reported its first adverse reaction out of more than 800 smallpox vaccinations given to emergency responders and military members deploying to the Middle East.

A hospital staff member who was vaccinated Jan. 31 developed skin lesions and was seen by dermatology staff on Wednesday, officials said.

"This is not a life-threatening reaction," said Col. Glenn Wasserman, Tripler's chief of preventive medicine.

The active-duty service member is feeling well, appears healthy and will return to Tripler for an appointment today, officials said.

The hospital said some of the test results will not be available for several days.

In accordance with Department of Defense instructions, the hospital is not giving out the staff member's name or rank. Tripler spokeswoman Margaret Tippy said the hospital worker is among the group that would care for patients in the event of a smallpox outbreak.

Military members in Hawai'i in late December began receiving smallpox vaccinations. Personnel who would vaccinate others in an outbreak, those who would care for infected individuals, and military personnel deploying to the Middle East were the first to receive the inoculations.

The state Health Department said between 500 and 700 health workers are expected to be vaccinated over the next several months.