Defense Department will inoculate against smallpox. (Security Beat).The Department of Defense said it plans to prepare against smallpox smallpox, acute, highly contagious disease causing a high fever and successive stages of severe skin eruptions. The disease dates from the time of ancient Egypt or before. attacks aimed at U.S. service members. "Like civilian communities, the Defense Department will ensure preparedness by immunizing personnel based on their occupational responsibilities," said a Pentagon statement. Smallpox response teams and hospital and clinic workers will be among the first to be inoculated. The Defense Department will proceed to vaccinate vac·ci·nate v. To inoculate with a vaccine in order to produce immunity to an infectious disease such as diphtheria or typhus. vac other designated personnel. Like other vaccinations ordered for service members by the Defense Department, "this will be mandated for designated personnel unless they are medically exempted," the release said. Routine vaccination vaccination, means of producing immunity against pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria, by the introduction of live, killed, or altered antigens that stimulate the body to produce antibodies against more dangerous forms. in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. against smallpox ended in 1972. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared the global eradication of smallpox as a naturally occurring disease and recommended that all countries cease vaccination. Military smallpox vaccination programs continued longer. In 1984, routine military vaccinations were limited to recruits entering basic training, but the practice was discontinued dis·con·tin·ue v. dis·con·tin·ued, dis·con·tin·u·ing, dis·con·tin·ues v.tr. 1. To stop doing or providing (something); end or abandon: in 1990. |
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