Training begins on how to give smallpox vaccination

Thursday, January 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Training is underway in Oklahoma City for 33 state public health nurses and 27 medical practitioners to teach them a medical procedure that hasn't been used in 30 years.

The group will learn how to give a smallpox vaccination. The vaccinations ended in the US in 1972 after the disease was eradicated.

The vaccine is being produced again because of the threat of bioterrorism.

Diana Pistole of the state Health Department says the smallpox vaccination is unique.

Those learning the technique today include nurses from city-county health departments in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Others are from the state Health Department, the Indian Health Service and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

The training is part of Oklahoma's plan for vaccinating front-line health care workers who would investigate or treat smallpox in case of a bioterrorism attack.