Shortly after the terrorist attacks in America on 9/11, there was a major scare in USA about the possibility of terrorists continuing their attacks by deliberately spreading smallpox. Amidst the public panic, the US government suggested that healthcare providers across the country should prepare by getting vaccinated in advance. However, some experts felt that this was not the best strategy since the vaccination itself carries the risk of death and good protection can be obtained if vaccinations were carried out post-exposure. Dr Parker Small was convinced that providing post-exposure vaccinations was the best risk management strategy and he used perspective scales to illustrate his message.