News/Action Alerts

ANA Urges Members to VOTE NO on the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act

Contact Your House Member - Tell Them to Vote NO on HR 1463

Message to Congress

ANA urges Members to VOTE NO on the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act (HR 1463). This bill fails to protect nurses. It does not provide adequate education, prescreening, surveillance, and compensation - and it will not result in increased vaccinations.

Background

The smallpox vaccine is a live virus. It has the worst record of negative side effects of any vaccine in the world. It is imperative, as a matter of public health, that those being vaccinated understand the risks of the vaccine to themselves and their loved ones, and be prescreened for conditions that require them to avoid the vaccine. The smallpox inoculation site can shed the live virus for up to three weeks. In the 1960s, more than 20% of the adverse vaccination events occurred in secondary contacts. Therefore, the vaccination program poses a risk not only to nurses, but also to their patients and families.

The American Nurses Association (ANA) has, since November 2002, been trying to work with the Administration to formulate a strong smallpox vaccination program that will encourage nurses to volunteer to be immunized. Unfortunately, the Smallpox Emergency Personnel Protection Act (HR 1463), which will come to the floor as early as Monday, March 31, fails to do this. The Republican Leadership in the House has denied the Democrats the opportunity to offer a stronger alternative. It is imperative that all Members show their opposition this bill, a strong NO vote will allow ANA to negotiate a stronger bill in the Senate.

Rationale

• The recent death of a MD nurse and FL nurse's aide only underscore the need for proper education, prescreening, and surveillance. Nurses and other first responders will continue to feel uncomfortable about the vaccine until they receive the reliable information and prescreening needed to make an informed decision.

• Members of the armed services received personalized education, and free and confidential prescreening prior to the administration of the vaccine. This process properly screened out one-third of the potential recipients. ANA urges Congress to enact legislation that would provide the same level of protection to civilian nurses. HR 1463 fails to do so.

• HR 1463 fails to require adequate funding for the administration of the smallpox vaccination program. The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCO) estimates that it costs $204 per person to properly administer the vaccine. States and localities are absorbing millions in uncompensated costs related to this program. NACCO reports that the uncompensated costs of the smallpox vaccination program are leading 79% of local public health officials to divert funds from other needed bioterrorism efforts.

• HR 1463 contains an insufficient, unfunded, compensation program. Many nurses will continue to choose not to be vaccinated until they are assured that the government is willing to take care of them if they are harmed by the vaccine. The Administration is basically asking healthy nurses to place themselves (as well as their patients and families) at risk for the common good. The vaccination has no tangible benefit for nurses; it is sought in the name of homeland security. ANA does not believe that its members should be made to bear this public risk alone. HR 1463 contains an unacceptable lifetime cap on wage replacement and fails to ensure that funds will be earmarked for the compensation fund.