Letter to Bush Administration

January 16, 2003

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing on behalf of the American Nurses Association (ANA) to request a delay in the implementation of the first phase of the public smallpox vaccination program slated for January 24, 2003. This delay would provide the administration with the time needed to address the major remaining issues related to the health and employment implications of the vaccination program.

The American Nurses Association is the only full-service association representing the nation's registered nurses through its 54 constituent member associations. Our members include registered nurses working and teaching in every health care sector across the United States. Our members are well represented among the first phase of 500,000 health care workers and the second phase of 10 million first responders who are scheduled to receive this vaccination.

Since 1998, the ANA has been involved in developing strategies for educating the nation's 2.7 million registered nurses to respond in the event of a bioterrorist attack. ANA also is working closely with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to develop the National Nurse Response Teams for just such an event. However, ANA wants nurses to be able to make an informed decision about whether or not they should get vaccinated against smallpox. We have yet to receive the answers needed to assist them in making that informed decision.

ANA identifies the following outstanding issues that must be addressed before the smallpox vaccination program moves forward:

• the potential transmission of the vaccinia virus to patients and family members;
• the right of coverage of medical costs associated with receiving the vaccine;
• the utilization of safer bifurcated needles;
• the critical need to establish an adequate prescreening and education program;
• maintaining sufficient staffing during the voluntary, pre-event vaccination program;
• compensation for lost time at work due to adverse effects of the vaccination program, and
• protection from job discrimination or retaliation for refusing to be vaccinated.

Without a resolution of these concerns, ANA can not fully support the smallpox vaccination program at this time. ANA looks forward to assisting the Administration in addressing these concerns. We urge you to delay the January 24 deadline in order to provide the time needed for a solution that best serves the nation's nurses and their patients. I would be pleased to talk with you further. I can be reached at 202-651-7011 or you may contact ANA Senior Policy Fellow Cheryl Peterson at 202-651-7089.

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Blakeney, MS, APRN,BC, ANP
President

CC: HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson

Smallpox Information and Resources

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