February 26, 2003

Genesis Medical Center Begins Smallpox Vaccinations

Davenport, IA - Genesis Medical Center (GMC) held the first of three smallpox vaccination clinics for its rapid response team today in the East Campus Conference Center, located in the lower level of Medical Office Building 2.

Sixteen of the 60 Genesis Smallpox Response Team members received the vaccine through a bifurcated (two-pronged) needle that was dipped into the vaccine solution and then poked several times into the skin on the upper arm. The vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia, which is another "pox"-type virus related to smallpox but cannot cause smallpox. The vaccine helps the body develop immunity to smallpox and was successfully used to eradicate the disease.

The vaccinations are part of the Iowa Department of Public Health Smallpox Plan. The plan, which has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), calls for volunteer public health and medical response teams to be vaccinated as a precaution. "We are not aware of any imminent threat of a smallpox attack, but we do believe that having an emergency preparedness and response program in place helps us stay on top of the threat and also allows us to provide quality health care to all those in need without jeopardizing the health of our employees," said James Lehman, M.D., Vice President of Quality for Genesis Medical Center.

Genesis employees who received the vaccination have meet federal and state criteria for vaccination. That criteria includes being previously vaccinated for smallpox, which puts them at reduced risk for severe reactions. Volunteers must also have no contraindications such as acute or chronic skin conditions, eczema or atopic dermatitis, or have a suppressed immune system.

GMC patients should not be concerned about coming in contact with a vaccination site. Smallpox team members, and all employees of Genesis Medical Center, follow strict hand hygiene and standard precautions so infection is not an issue. Smallpox team members have also been trained on how to take care of the vaccination site and will report daily, during their work week, to the employee health nurse who will review the site and discuss side effects if present. "If the employee is suffering from health complications related to the vaccination, he or she will go home and rest or report to the hospital's infectious disease specialist for follow-up care," adds Dr. Lehman.

The Genesis smallpox response team will be responsible for the care and treatment of those who have a suspected or confirmed case of smallpox in our health care region, in the unlikely event of a smallpox outbreak. GMC volunteers include, but are not limited to, physicians, nurses, infectious disease specialists, respiratory therapists, radiology technicians, housekeeping staff, and hospital-based EMS providers.

GMC is one of 15 hospitals in Iowa that has begun vaccinating a team of volunteer health care workers as part of Iowa's smallpox plan, the state's approach for meeting the Bush administration's plan for dealing with the threat of a smallpox release by terrorists. As part of the Homeland Security Act, each state must train and vaccinate "rapid response teams" who will provide the initial response to a domestic smallpox incident.

For more information about Homeland Security and the Iowa Smallpox Vaccination Plan visit the Genesis Health System Web site at www.genesishealth.com.