US purchases new smallpox vaccine

[Treyfish]

US purchases new smallpox vaccine
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->The Associated Press
<!--date-->Article Last Updated: 06/04/2007 04:31:21 PM MDT



<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; </SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </SCRIPT>WASHINGTON-The federal government will purchase 20 million doses of a smallpox vaccine that, in the event of an outbreak, would be used to treat people with compromised immune systems.
The five-year contract with Bavarian Nordic, a Danish pharmaceutical company, is valued at more than $500 million. The contract contains options that could extend its value to $1.6 billion, the company and the Health and Human Services Department announced on Monday.
The smallpox vaccine is a completely new product that will be added to the Strategic National Stockpile. The current stockpile contains enough smallpox vaccine for every American. However, that vaccine was produced using a live, replicating virus, which can be potentially life-threating in rare instances. Patients, such as those getting chemotherapy, should not get such vaccines in non-emergency cases. The smallpox vaccine to be purchased from Bavarian Nordic contains a highly weakened form of the virus that cannot replicate in humans. The 20 million doses purchased under the contract would be enough to treat the 10 million people in the U.S. with weakened immune systems.:tiphat:


http://www.denverpost.com/healthcare/ci_6059011

 

[Thornton]

Re: US purchases new smallpox vaccine

The US has aggressively pursued smallpox countermeasures since the October 2001 anthrax attack.

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/facts.asp

After the events of September and October, 2001, however, the U.S. government took further actions to improve its level of preparedness against terrorism. One of many such measures?designed specifically to prepare for an intentional release of the smallpox virus?included updating and releasing a smallpox response plan. In addition, the U.S. government has enough vaccine to vaccinate every person in the United States in the event of a smallpox emergency.

(released in Dec 2004 and reviewed Feb 2006)

A bit of good news, bad news. We have seen this week how the CDC is dependent on protocols. The smallpox response plan is triggered by an attack on the US. The US has enough vaccine for its entire population and now we see a contract to purchase more vaccine. Its not clear what happens if the smallpox attack presents in Asia and billions of Non-American lives are threatened first. How much of the USA vaccine is released for international use and under what circumstance?

 

[Thornton]

The federal government is buying 2 million doses of a smallpox medicine

The federal government is buying 2 million doses of a smallpox medicine

Report: US stockpiling smallpox drug in case of attack

By Elise Viebeck - 03/13/13 09:12 AM ET

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatc...s-stockpiling-smallpox-drug-in-case-of-attack
...
The federal government is buying 2 million doses of a smallpox medicine to have in reserve in case of a bioterrorist attack, according to a report.

The antiviral drug Arestvyr costs the government more than $200 for each course of treatment, a price some have criticized as too high. Following Sept. 11, when officials discussed amassing smallpox medicine, the price was expected to be $5 or $10 per course, The New York Times reported.

NYT link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/13/h...ox-drug-in-case-of-bioterror-attack.html?_r=0

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatc...smallpox-drug-in-case-of-attack#ixzz2NTlTi9IA
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