Stanislaus County hospitals and the Stanislaus Medical Society have been lined up to participate in a smallpox vaccination program.

"We have known for some time that smallpox is an area of concern for national defense," said Dr. John Walker, the county's public health officer.

"While there is no information that smallpox will be introduced in California now or the near future, it is prudent that we take precautions in the event there is an occurrence."

Walker described a two-phase, voluntary vaccination program:

Phase I, for public health and acute-care hospital workers; and Phase II, for first responders such as firefighters, ambulance personnel and police officers.

Stanislaus is among the California counties that have submitted plans to the state for vaccinating health care workers.

"With the announcement from the president, local hospitals, the medical society and the public health department are moving forward as a health-care team to plan for the specifics of the vaccination process," Walker said.

Besides the medical society, Walker listed these participants: the county Health Services Agency and Office of Emergency Services; Doctors and Memorial medical centers, both in Modesto; Emanuel Medical Center, Turlock; and Oak Valley Hospital, Oakdale.

Information on smallpox is available online at the county Health Services Agency Web site www.hsahealth.org.

Reprinted by permission of Modesto Bee.