Public Comments Re: Smallpox Vaccine Trial on 2 to 5 Year Old Children

I find this study to be unnecessary and wasteful. If the desired outcome is to discover if we can stretch our supply of the vaccine, it seems wise to me to trade some of our $300 toilet seats and hammers to pay for more of the vaccine. We have enough history to know the vaccine works if it is needed. We cannot become a country that is wasting valuable time on this earth preventing every what if scenario that comes along, because there will always be a what if that we haven’t thought of. The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. Unless of course, you do not know Christ. Mr. Phil Stravers I think this is the most absurd and irresponsible thing you can do. The chance of risking even one little life for the sake of research is unconscionable. Have you seen some of the results of children getting this awful vaccine??? And you would still consider it???????
Mrs. Nancy Lou De Lise

I have a 3 year old son. Luckily, he hasn’t had any reactions to the immunizations he has already received. I don’t think that the small pox vaccine is warranted at this time — unless there have been breakouts. I realize that my son’s immunizations were for his own good, but all the crap that has been pumped into his little body scares the hell out of me. I want him to be healthy, but I don’t want to risk his life or quality of life for something that might become an epidemic. If this is a serious threat and will definetly benefit him, then I would be all for it. If this is just something else to inject in him because of the hype, then I am against it.
Ms. Christina Ducharme

I am opposed to subjecting children to this vaccine. Small Pox has been eridacated. I agree that it could be a bioterroist threat, but to what extent? I think we should wait until an outbreak occurs, then use the vaccine we have on hand. Yes it is old, but use that rather than trying something new which could do more harm than good. Is our government over reacting? Or is it trying to send some money to a probable campaign supporter? Think of the children before the money. Karen Riegelman U.S. Citizen I would just like to say , that I do not believe that there has been enough study on this vaxine to be giving it to anyone. For one thing it is too old to nkow if it is still safe. I know that there where some tests done with it but I think that there should be a lot more time & study on it first.
Ronald Kippenhan

I DO NOT support the smallpox vaccine study, Docket No. 02N-0466.
Mrs. Brandi Maynard

Knowing from recent data, concerning adult vaccination utilizing the small pox vaccine, that administration of a diluted sample is effective to promote immunization it seems unnecessary to sample a population of children for determination of the efficacy of the full strength virus given the potential deleterious side effect- Dr. Sarah Wilcox-Adelman CBRC/Mass General Hospital I am appalled that the FDA would consider proceeding with this study knowing the risks involved.
Mrs. Deborah Drummond

It should be tested on children though with the potential of high or fatal side effects you may have problems finding parents who will allow their children to participate. I would not be willing to put my own children into the study. Good luck! Miss Ursula Robertson I see no need to take even a small chance of side effects with this age group unless there is a true risk. We have enough data on possible side effects from all the years the vaccine was given before 1972. Why risk even minor side effects when there is no information to be gained that cannot be obtained by testing the vaccine on older people who are less likely to spread the organism to eyes or skin?
Mrs. Marlene Tessler Emory University Student Health Service

Conducting these tests on children would be highly immoral. Children have no right to consent or refuse, and no idea how dangerous this test is. Most parents are very uninformed about the dangers of vaccines, expecting that our doctor wouldn’t do anything to harm us. Those parents who are fully informed of the risks would never submit their child to testing a vaccine. Leave the testing to consenting, informed adults if they want to increase the U.S. vaccine supply.
Mrs. Tracy Thornburg

I think that the idea of testing a vaccine that is *known* to be dangerous and/or have a high rate of vaccine reactions on a group of young children is highly immoral. I do not support this proposal, and would be very, very angry to hear that the FDA would put children in harm for the sake of an experiment. Children are too young to give informed consent- therefore, they should not be used as test subjects for medical purposes. I most definately feel that this study should NOT be conducted. Ms. Stefani Barner In my opinion the vaccine should definitely NOT be tested on children. The possibilty that even one child may experience serious side effects and even death from the vaccine is far too great a risk to take. These are our children not science experiements!
Ms. Karen Valdez

I don’t think it is right to test something on a child that we don’t know how safe it is, and if it could be fatal. I know I wouldn’t let you test something like that on my child. I don’t think parents want to sacrifice their precious babies to medical science, and I think it’s wrong to expect people to take those chances. You need to find a different way to test the vaccine. One life is not less valuable than another. I vote NO.
Mrs. Cathleen Magee

Read more comments
Comments by Dr. William J. Bicknell, Professor of International Health, Boston University
Comments by Dr. Nelson and Dr. Offit, U of Pennsylvania
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