Smallpox Vaccine General Information

Dryvax Smallpox Vaccine  A live virus vaccine, as are the measles/mumps/rubella and chicken pox vaccines used in the US today  Prepared from calf lymph containing live vaccinia virus  Contains polymyxin B, streptomycin, tetracycline and neomycin  Diluent is 50 percent glycerin and phenol as a preservative

New Smallpox Vaccines  Live vaccinia virus produced using cell culture technology  Distributed as a freeze dried powder  Do not contain antibiotics  Diluent contains glycerin and phenol  Should be available by 2004  Side effect profile will be similar

Smallpox Vaccine  Given with bifurcated (two-pronged) needle that is dipped in vaccine and then used to poke the skin about 15 times in a few seconds  Live vaccinia virus is thus administered into the superficial layers of the skin, grows, and produces an immune response  Protection develops 8-14 days after vaccination (faster if the person has been vaccinated before)  91-95% are protected after first dose  Good long-term (>10 years) immunity after immunization. However, since routine vaccination stopped approximately 30 years ago, no one is currently considered immune

SMALLPOX VACCINE  Vaccine contains live vaccinia virus which is administered into the superficial layers of the skin  A successful vaccination produces a lesion on the skin that contains vaccine virus for up to 3 weeks.  Vaccinia virus can be transmitted to household and other close contacts  Candidates for vaccination must be screened for contraindications  Certain medical conditions in the person’s household contacts must also be considered as contraindications for vaccination

Smallpox Vaccine  Can be used to prevent smallpox in people who have been exposed Vaccination within 3 days of exposure will completely prevent or significantly modify smallpox in the vast majority of persons Vaccination within 3 days of exposure will completely prevent or significantly modify smallpox in the vast majority of persons Vaccination within 4-7 days of exposure will also likely offer some protection from disease or modify the severity of disease Vaccination within 4-7 days of exposure will also likely offer some protection from disease or modify the severity of disease

Smallpox Vaccine For information on contraindications to the vaccine, see “Medical Screening and Counseling” under the Medical Job Function section.