Smallpox Information Center
| Guidelines | Liability | ODH resources | CDC resources | Other resources |
As part of a national readiness plan, hospitals are working with public health entities, fire, police and other providers such as EMS to prepare for the possible, though unlikely, threat of smallpox as warfare.
Included in this site is hospital-specific information to aid hospitals in implementing first phase vaccination of select health care workers for smallpox. Those first vaccinated would take care of the initial cases of smallpox in the event of an incident.
Also find resources from the Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in addition to several links to the CDC Web site, which contains the most up-to-date information on the disease, the vaccine and the vaccination plan.
Guidelines for Hospitals
Review the Smallpox Medical Vaccination Guidelines, prepared for Health Care Facilities in Ohio, by the Ohio Hospital Association.
Find a Q&A to help hospitals determine their roll in the statewide smallpox vaccination plan.
Check out guidelines for fielding media inquiries on smallpox.*
Review Ohio Department of Health-proposed criteria for hospital participation in the smallpox vaccination plan.
Complete the Phase 1 Pre-Event Smallpox Planning Healthcare Response Team Criteria Form (Word Document), and return to Carol Jacobson ( carolj@ohanet.org ) at OHA.
Questions?
Contact Carol Jacobson, Director of Emergency Management at OHA, at 614.221.7614 or carolj@ohanet.org .
Contact the Ohio Department of Health at 614.644.8562 with questions about smallpox, the vaccine or the smallpox vaccination plan.
Liability
Questions remain on several liability issues associated with the volunteer vaccination.
- If a volunteer gets sick from the vaccine, will insurance providers cover the cost of medical care, since the worker volunteered to be vaccinated?
- If a volunteer gets sick from the vaccine, who covers the missed days of work until the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation begins coverage after 8 days?
Read a letter from Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson to American Hospital Association President Dick Davidson addressing some of hospitals' liability protection concerns.
Read Letter Report #1 (2003) , a review of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Smallpox Vaccination Program Implementation.
Section 304 of the Homeland Security Act (Liability Issues) Section 304 of the Homeland Security Act is intended to alleviate these liability concerns and therefore ensure that vaccine is available and can be administered, particularly in the event of a smallpox-related actual or potential public health emergency such as a bioterrorist incident.
Declaration Regarding Administration of Smallpox Countermeasures (Billing Code 4150-24), Department of Health and Human Services
Smallpox Program Implementation Liability Issues - from CDC web site - NEW!
Questions and Answers: Smallpox Vaccination Program Implementation - a Q&A on Smallpox Vaccination Programs.
Resources
Documents courtesy of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH)*
4.2.03
Dr. Baird's letter to address
the newly imposed cardiac related
contraindications.
2.24.03 - Smallpox Vaccination Guide : For Hospital Infection Control Practitioners and Hospital Employee/Occupational Health Departments
2.5.03 -
Dr. Baird's letter to Ohio colleagues
: This letter delineates
Web sites for continuing educational endeavors and procedures for
consultation and reporting of adverse events. For consultation related
to adverse events, physicians may call CDC's Clinician Information Line at
877.554.4635. Additional consultation and/or questions regarding
smallpox vaccination logistics locally will be directed to the local
health districts.
2.5.03 -
Director Baird's Journal Entry
: This document provides the legal
authority for reporting and public health investigation of adverse
events related to smallpox vaccine. Specifically, Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System Forms (VAERS) shall be completed and forwarded to the
local health district for the following:
12.13.02 - What You Need to Know About Smallpox
Frequently Asked Questions About Smallpox : A series of questions and answers provided by the Office of Public Affairs of the Ohio Department of Health.
Smallpox Fact Sheet for Media : Information packet designed for the media which includes Key points, general information, and common terms associated with Smallpox.
Smallpox Preparation: Are We Ready? (PowerPoint Presentation) * - educational program presented by the Ohio Department of Health Infectious Disease Division that provides information on Ohio's preparedness, identification of smallpox and vaccination methods.
Medical and Public Health Aspects of Smallpox (PowerPoint Presentation) * - educational program provided by the Ohio Department of Health that provides information on the adverse events of smallpox vaccine and their treatment.
Health Care Worker Education (PowerPoint Presentation)*- This presentation is provided by OHA and should be used to educate the general health care worker to provide them with a broad overview and working knowledge of smallpox, the vaccine and counter indications for receiving the vaccine. The slides also provide direction on administering the vaccine, infection control guidance and site care guidelines.
* All three presentations can be utilized to conduct education within your facilities, especially to persons in your emergency department, medical staff, and volunteers for your smallpox health care response team.
Documents courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)*
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Internet Links and Web Resources
The CDC Web site has the most up-to-date information on smallpox and the national vaccination plan. Find several links to that site, including information specifically for the public and health care professionals, in addition to images.
Recommendations for Using Smallpox Vaccine in a Pre-Event Vaccination Program
CDC Accepts ACIP's Recommendations for Additional Exclusion Criteria for Smallpox Vaccination Program
Draft Recommendations for Use of Smallpox Vaccine in a Pre-Event Smallpox Vaccination Program from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
Smallpox Vaccination Method This document incorporates the recommendations for number of punctures.
Smallpox Overview : Smallpox is a serious, highly contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. Learn more with this overview from the CDC.
Smallpox Fact Sheet: Reactions after Smallpox Vaccination Learn more about the normal, uncommon and severe reactions experienced after a Smallpox vaccination
Smallpox Fact Sheet: Smallpox Vaccination Method Fact sheet designed for clinicians that describes the Smallpox Vaccination Method.
Smallpox Fact Sheet: Who Should NOT Receive the Smallpox Vaccine? Fact sheet to help determine who should not receive the smallpox vaccine, if not already exposed to the smallpox virus.
Smallpox Vaccination and Adverse Reactions Guidance for Clinicians (the January 24, 2003 Recommendations and Report, MMWR Dispatch).
Also available as a PDF .
Other Resources:
Bureau of Workers' Compensation Smallpox Vaccine Policy
Medical Management Of Biological Casualties Handbook Fourth Edition
February 2001, U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
Ohio Bureau Of Workers Compensation - Workers Compensation Benefits for the Smallpox Vaccine
Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness - Smallpox Vaccination Brochure ( Logical Images has copyrighted this brochure but has granted unrestricted use of these materials to healthcare professionals for educational, training and clinical use. Commercial reproduction of the guide is not permitted. Images rendered from a PDF file, however, will not approach the clarity and quality of those in the printed reference guide. Accordingly, you are highly encouraged to obtain and distribute printed copies of the reference guide from the appropriate source (either CDC or Logical Images, Inc. ).
Rethinking Smallpox Immunizations in Hospitals - A Hospital Lawyer's Guide The federal government is proposing immunizing 500,000 health care workers for smallpox, starting spring 2003. The objective is to prepare health care facilities and emergency services to receive patients from bioterrorism attacks with smallpox. This note discusses the potential medical risks and the attendant legal problems posed by this policy.
President Bush Delivers Remarks on Smallpox (12.13.02) Remarks by the President on Smallpox Vaccination
Public Health Foundation (PHF) - Smallpox Training Materials
Statement of the American Hospital Association Before the Institute of Medicine Committee on Smallpox Vaccination Program Implementation on Hospitals' Views on the Federal Smallpox Vaccine Program (12.19.02)
Toledo/Lucas County Health Department : "Clinical Features of Smallpox & Vaccine Administration: A Pamphlet for Medical Personnel."
United States Health & Human Services Smallpox Information Web Site.
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System [VAERS ]: One VAERS form will be completed for each reported adverse event. The second page contains instructions for completing the VAERS form.