Charles V. Peña

About the author: Charles V. Peña is senior defense policy analyst and director of defense policy studies at the Cato Institute, a nonprofit public policy research foundation in Washington, D.C. His opinions have appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines, and e-zines.

Vaccinating people against smallpox after cases have already appeared might have worked for natural outbreaks, but it is unlikely to be a good strategy if smallpox is used as a bioterrorist weapon because there will not be time or facilities for mass vaccination. Instead, the smallpox vaccine should be made available to the public as soon as possible, and individuals should decide whether to be vaccinated based on their health status and perception of risks versus benefits. Even if only a portion...