Local residents answered the call for help as many showed up for a smallpox clinic training session held last Thursday night, March 27, at Macon County Junior High School.
Volunteers sat through a training session that discussed different parts of the smallpox vaccination clinic plan. Plans for transportation, security and clinic flow were discussed.
In addition, members of the local health care community along with firefighters and other volunteers learned the accepted procedure to administer the smallpox vaccination, if the need arises.
Earlier this year, the Tennessee Department of Health began developing plans to respond in the event smallpox is used as a biological weapon.
The Upper Cumberland Regional Health Office is in the final stages of organizing a comprehensive plan to immunize the entire population of the Upper Cumberland region within ten days, if a case of smallpox is diagnosed anywhere in the country.
Because of the high case fatality rates and the possibility of person to person transmission of smallpox, the disease is recognized as one of the most serious biological threats to the population.
The disease was effectively eliminated in the early 1970's, with the immunizations stopping in 1972. Even individuals who did receive a vaccination prior to 1972, must receive a new immunization in the event a case of smallpox is reported.
Because of this, approximately 50,000 people are expected to go through the smallpox clinic that will be held at MCJHS if the need arises.
Reports of many different countries developing the smallpox virus have surfaced during the past year. Among the countries believed to have a stockpile of the virus are Iraq, North Korea, France and Russia. Because of this, the United States is developing a thorough plan to vaccinate everyone who wants the vaccination.
Currently, the U.S. government has all the known smallpox vaccination in storage. At this time, vaccinations will NOT be given unless a case of smallpox is reported somewhere in the country. If that happens, the volunteer clinics will have the vaccine delivered within 24 hours and the clinic must be ready to be up and operating within 24 hours to effectively and efficiently complete vaccinations within 10 days.
There will be six sites in the Upper Cumberland region that will conduct the mass vaccination clinics, with one of those sites in Macon County.
Macon County Junior High School will be the location of a Smallpox Clinic if one is needed. Each clinic will be required to vaccinate approximately 50,000 individuals in ten days. This clinic will serve residents of Macon, Smith and Clay counties.
While the volunteer turnout and sign-up has been good, there is a need for more volunteers in every area. More than 250 volunteers per day will be needed to staff the clinics.
For more information regarding volunteering, please contact you local county health department at 666-2142.
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