Farmington, Conn.
A national program to vaccinate 500,000 health care workers against smallpox got off to a slow start this week when only four people showed up. Connecticut officials had hoped to inoculate 20 doctors and nurses in front of television cameras on the first day, to inspire public confidence. But health care workers didn’t show up, after the nurses union warned that Connecticut—the first state to begin inoculations—had “rushed” the program. The union said health care workers deserved more information about the possibility of severe side effects from the vaccination. President Bush ordered the inoculations so that nurses and doctors could treat people infected by a biological attack without falling ill themselves. Many health workers say they won’t get the shots until the government guarantees compensation if the vaccine makes them sick.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Indonesia eyes the world stageUnder The Radar Joining Brics could give the Southeast Asian nation new leverage on the world stage
-
Can Republicans navigate their narrow House majority?In the Spotlight This isn't the first time that a party has had no margin for error
-
How does Inauguration Day work?The Explainer Part Constitution, part tradition
