It's been more than a month since JHM's Office
of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) announced
its plan for vaccinating a core group of health care workers
against an old enemy, smallpox. Now, the call for volunteers
has gone out to functional units throughout the three Hopkins
hospitals.
Potentially, as many as 250 from Hopkins Hospital, 175 from
Bayview, and 100 from Howard Country General could be vaccinated
over six to nine months. Among these first responders will
be doctors and nurses, techs and therapists, housekeepers
and laboratory workers-in short, anyone who routinely comes
into contact with patients. As part of CEPAR's "go slow"
plan, they will be inoculated in small groups, at a rate of
about five to 10 a week, to insure safety for the volunteers
and patients.
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"It may be a small step in alleviating
the distress, but it's a step. It can take away at least
one ring of fear."
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Christina Catlett in the Emergency
Department |
