Many Americans approve of mass smallpox vaccinations

AORN Journal, Feb, 2003

Although 42% of Americans overestimate the risk of death from smallpox vaccine, 49% would elect to receive the vaccine, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll. These results suggest that many Americans believe the risk of biological attack is great enough to warrant government policies to protect the public. In addition, 23% of respondents favored mass vaccination of emergency room and hospital workers, police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics; and 42% favored mass vaccination of the entire US population, except in cases in which the vaccine would pose a known threat to the recipient.

"American public supports moss smallpox vaccinations despite risks, "The Wall Street Journal Online 1 (Dec 2, 2002) http://www.harrisinteractive.com/news/newsletters/ wsjhealthnews/HIWSJ_HealthCareNews2002Vol1_iss02.pdf (accessed 8 Dec 2002).