By K. Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – About 50 Missouri public health workers took part in a day-long training session Tuesday to learn how to administer the smallpox vaccine. The training comes in response to the Bush administration's recommendation to immunize thousands of health care professionals across the country.
Some medical officials have questioned the safety of treating patients who have weakened immune systems. But Dr. Robert Hamm with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says current data suggests it is safe.
Missouri officials hope to immunize more than 8,000 health care providers and hospital staff on a voluntary basis by the end of March.