Seeking lessons in history

Were three heart attack deaths this year in people recently vaccinated against smallpox related to the vaccine? Earlier this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published an analysis of what happened after a 1947 smallpox vaccination campaign in New York City. The analysis found no increase in cardiac deaths, although approximately 6 million New York City residents were vaccinated.

"The findings are consistent with a growing body of evidence suggesting that ischemic cardiac deaths observed after the 2003 campaign might have been unrelated to vaccine," says the Oct. 3 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.