ANA Responds to Wall Street Journal Editorial

February 13, 2003

The Wall Street Journal

To the Editor:

Your Feb. 11 editorial, "Dark Smallpox Winter," does indeed succeed in scaring people about the potential threat and consequences of smallpox being used as a weapon of terror. However, many health care organizations that support the goal of preparing for acts of terrorism have voiced thoughtful concerns about the administration's vaccination plan. We are still awaiting answers.

In November, the American Nurses Association asked the Department of Health & Human Services to address its concerns about the vaccination plan, including the risk of cross-contamination - exposing patients and family members to the virus - as well as issues ranging from staffing shortages to compensation. To frame the concerns as being focused solely on compensation is misleading. Given no response from HHS and with the start of the vaccination program looming, on Jan.16, I sent a letter to President Bush asking him to delay implementation of the program until these questions were answered. We are still awaiting answers.

And, despite the editorial's suggestion that workers are covered, there is no consensus that state-based worker's compensation programs would cover those who suffer as a result of taking the vaccine. While it is true that health care workers are exposed to illness and hazards on the job, we oppose exposing nurses, patients and their families to unnecessary and ill-defined risk complicated by incomplete information. Given the concerns raised by the Institute of Medicine's expert panel, as well as the sheer number of organizations and individual health care workers who are balking at participating in the vaccination program, shouldn't the administration and the public heed this as a signal that more work is needed before the program is rolled out?

We continue to ask the Bush Administration to take the time now - at the start of the vaccination program - to address the plan's shortcomings. Despite your contention to the contrary, the ball is in the administration's court. The Bush Administration has the ability to address the questions and shore up the program. When that work is done, you will find nurses ready and willing to volunteer.

Sincerely,

Barbara A. Blakeney, MS, APRN,BC, ANP
President
American Nurses Association
202-651-7011

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