Smallpox Caution

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added a "temporary medical deferral" to the smallpox vaccination program for persons with three or more heart disease risk factors — as the center investigates a link between the inoculations and reports of heart problems.

Out of about 22,000 workers vaccinated by late March, seven had experienced cardiac-related complications — including two women who died.

"We promised to closely monitor this program and to put safety first, so we are exercising exceptional caution," says CDC Dir. Julie Geberding, who noted that most of the seven appeared to have had some history of heart problems.

This development came as a surprise to health officials. They are now conferring with cardiologists and Pentagon physicians who have inoculated hundreds of thousands in the military — with one heart-related problem.