DECISION MAKING FOR BIOTERROR PREPAREDNESS: EXAMPLES FROM SMALLPOX VACCINATION POLICY.

Decision making for bioterror preparedness involves estimating the consequences of different attack scenarios paired with alternative preparedness and response policies, and selecting an appropriate strategy to minimize deaths, disease, and costs to society. Smallpox vaccination policy provides an excellent case study of these concepts in action. We review both the smallpox vaccination policy debate in the United States circa 2002, and the successful use of operations research methods to influence policy in this arena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]