U.S. Pledges 20 Million Doses of Smallpox Vaccine to World Health Organization’s Global Stockpile

The United States has pledged to donate 20 million doses of smallpox vaccine to the global stockpile managed by the World Health Organization, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 8).

“The United States is proud to make a significant contribution to a global stockpile that will serve as a critical line of defense in the event of a smallpox attack anywhere in the world,” Thompson said. “This is an important step toward ensuring the health and safety of the American people.”

Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom also made pledges to the stockpile, according to a Health and Human Services press release.

The United States in 2003 encouraged development of a World Health Organization Smallpox Vaccine Bank, consisting of a physical stockpile in Geneva and a virtual global stockpile of pledged vaccine.   The 20 million doses pledged by the United States are to physically remain in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile, but will be available for use in the event of an emergency, according to the press release (Health and Human Services Department release/PR newswire, Dec. 10).

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