The DeKalb County Health Department is preparing to restart its smallpox vaccination program; however, no official date has been set.

The program was halted March 26 after some of the recipients had cardiac problems associated with the vaccine. Three people received the vaccine in DeKalb County and no cardiac problems were reported, said Karen Grush, DeKalb County Health Department public health administrator.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the cases and is expected to inform the clinics administering the vaccines when they can continue.

“We were told March 31 the program probably would resume in a couple weeks, but no word has come since,” Grush said.

Grush said Illinois has issued more than 25,000 vaccines and has received seven unusual reports from recipients. She added there were two deaths attributed to cardiac side effects from the vaccines.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital also was reviewing the possibility of participating in the federal vaccination program, but that plan has been placed on hold.

Grush said it is likely the CDC will issue a different sort of medical questionnaire for volunteers than previously used. The new questionnaire likely will include questions to weed out volunteers who have had cardiac problems in the past, Grush said.

“The federal government believes there is still a threat of a smallpox outbreak, and we need a team that has been vaccinated to respond should there be a case,” Grush said.