Pender Community Healthcare Providers Receive Smallpox Vaccination

On Monday, February 10th, local healthcare professionals took the first step in helping to ensure that residents in our local area are protected from smallpox. Sue Hanson, RN; Don Pearson, Infection Control Director; Flora Lehmkuhl, Radiology; Dee Moeller, Director of Nursing, all from Pender Community Hospital, received the smallpox vaccination and/or training. Dr. David Hoelting is scheduled to receive the vaccination on February 17. The participants learned how to recognize symptoms, administer the smallpox vaccination, and treat potential problems from the vaccination. The training, one of sixteen held statewide by the Nebraska Health and Human Services Department, was held at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk. The purpose of smallpox vaccination clinic was, and is, to prepare our area in the event that smallpox is used as a weapon of mass destruction. The smallpox vaccinations were given by members of the Air National Guard and the event was coordinated by your Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department (which serves Thurston, Wayne, Dixon, and Cedar counties), along with other regional local health departments.

This is Phase 1 of Nebraska's Comprehensive Smallpox Response Plan which included this "pre-event vaccination". The pre-event vaccination was directed at health care workers most likely to diagnose and provide care to suspected and confirmed smallpox cases, and to public health officials responsible for investigation, follow-up and implementation of control measures.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has stated that there is enough vaccine for the entire U.S. population. The vaccine does have some possible side effects however, so there are no plans to vaccinate the entire population unless there is a smallpox outbreak. In the case of an outbreak and when directed by the CDC, Nebraska's mass immunization plan provides immunization for every Nebraska resident within four days, if necessary.

Additional information can be found at www.hhs.state.ne.us or www.cdc.gov. You can also contact Steve Hillis, Health and Safety Coordinator at the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department, at nnphd@huntel.net or 402-375-2200.