AUSTIN (AP) — After the Centers for Disease Control issued an alert, the Texas Department of Health has notified its regional offices and local health departments that people with cardiovascular disease should not be vaccinated for smallpox.
The CDC issued its warning Tuesday night.
Vaccinators also were told to inform those receiving the immunization that myopericarditis — an inflammation of a heart wall and sac — may be a potential complication of the vaccination.
Federal authorities are investigating whether there is an association between smallpox vaccination and reports of heart problems in seven health care workers who have been vaccinated. None of the seven is from Texas.
Some 1,711 public health response team members, hospital-based medical care employees and federal employees in Texas had been vaccinated through March 21. Vaccinations in Texas began in the state Feb. 13.
CDC warns against smallpox vaccinations for heart patients
March 27, 2003
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