If smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 why does the military still give us the shot?

Question

Also, why are our medical records always sealed when we travel with them? Is that to keep US out or Other people out of them? Am I just paranoid in thinking that some of these shots we get aren't always exactly what they say?

Why does my armpit hurt? Should I let the smallpox air out or clean it or just leave it alone and keep it bandagded up?

I realize that only authorized people can see my files, but why am I not authorized to view them? They are MY records....

Answer 1

I have often wondered this myself, about why I couldn't just keep my medical records when I got out. Since mine were basically empty, i didn't care that much.

As for the smallpox, the shot is given...just in case. The problem being that since all viruses mutate over time (or can be genetically modified) if smallpox were released back into the world, there is no garentee that the strain released would be effectively controlled by the vaccine. And since there is no natural immunity left in most people of the world (some of the other posts are wrong, it doesn't exist naturally anywhere in the world but those two labs the one post mentioned) the resulting pandemic might be of apocalyptic scale. Or maybe not. Either way, I doubt the shot will help in the grand scheme of things.

Answer 2

Smallpox was eradicated as a natural disease, but both the US and Russia retain small supplies, and it's possible there are others who might use the virus as a biologic weapon.
I suspect the policy about sealed records probably is a bit of an over-reaction to somebody "losing" part of his record that was less than flattering. And they tell you what you're getting. Sometimes they're a bit heavy-handed, but there's no real subterfuge.

Answer 3

Although smallpox was "declared eradicated," there still are at least two known places where samples of the virus are kept. One is at a CDC office in Georgia and another somewhere in Russia. These samples are remnents from the cold war when it was feared that either the U.S. or U.S.S.R. would use a mutated version of the virus against the other. The fear is still there that someone could get hold of the sample and do the same thing today.....thus we still get immunized.

Answer 4

First off, your records are sealed so no one gets into them, you or anyone else. There are times that people would not want their new location to know about a potential problem---asthma, weight program, broken bones; anything that could lead to a discharge.

Smallpox is a disease that has been eradicated in the general population but is still available in laboratories. It would be disastrous if a potential enemy got the virus and used it against our troops.

Answer 5

There are still some samples left in the world. If there were to be a smallpox outbreak, it would be disastrous, and we need to make sure our military won't be put out of action from such a small virus.

Answer 6

Smallpox was eradicated in industrialized parts of the world but still exists elsewhere. The shots are to make sure it does not come back.

Answer 7

small pox injections incase of biological attack and health records sealed due to data protection. only authorised people may view and you have to authorise.

you can but you have to pay an admin fee. when it protected by data protection it means no-one is allowed access even the person they are refering to in case of an imposter unless proof of ID is provided and the fee i mentioned.

Answer 8

A good number of the shots are for diseases that are (were) indeed eradicated in the United States.
The key phrase here is "in the United States."

Other parts of the world are not so fortunate.

Answer 9

well it maybe have been eradicated in the inudstrial world but
not ALL over the world...there are outbreaks now and then and
since our boys have to go everywhere its better safe the sorry...