Sorry, I did not fully research as it was not my question...I was trying to provide a quick answer. As I said consider the sources...(CDC? & others)
Frankly, I wouldn’t count being immune from the vaccine—tho given the current climate, I would be hesitant to get an experimental one...As I posted, I wondered if there is actually a test available to determine immunity. From what I read, it is possible, but not sure if readily available.
That said, I have looked into it more fully.
My second link, the NCBI states:
Given that the majority of Americans under the age of 35 years have never been vaccinated against smallpox and the great majority of those over 35 have not received booster vaccinations since the early 1970s, immunity to smallpox is considered to be low to nonexistent in today’s population.
As link showed, they have a paper of a study with a seemingly small number of patients—but very long-term time period indicating lifetime:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2610468/
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CDC pulls up: How long does a smallpox vaccination last? Past experience indicates that the first dose of the vaccine offers protection from smallpox for 3 to 5 years, with decreasing immunity thereafter. If a person is vaccinated again later, immunity lasts longer.
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Here is another study saying MAY last a lifetime: (I know nothing about New Scientist)
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn4064-smallpox-immunity-may-last-a-lifetime/
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NY Health Dept...(same as CDC) How long does a smallpox vaccination last? Past experience indicates that the first dose of the vaccine offers protection from smallpox for 3 to 5 years, with decreasing immunity thereafter. If a person is vaccinated again later, immunity lasts longer.
Smallpox Questions and Answers: The Disease and the Vaccinewww.health.ny.gov › publications
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Here is a website that has study says some lifetime: (Some debate)
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2003/09/researcher-defends-view-smallpox-shot-may-give-lasting-protection
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This article provides an interesting chart of various vaccine effectiveness timelines:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/how-long-do-vaccines-last-surprising-answers-may-help-protect-people-longer
So CDC has one opinion, NCBI states same but has studies contrary and there are studies questioning the CDC guidance...Sounds vaguely familiar. Who do you trust?
BTW, interesting, there have been vaccines being developed over the past decade at least—and there have been a few lab outbreaks...Hmm
Also interesting, there have been lab outbreaks—in 2017, 5 workers in China; and in 2018, one worker in San Diego...
...You are welcome.
Similar to smallpox;
In San Diego:
https://www.livescience.com/vaccinia-virus-infection-fingertip.html
Who do I trust?
After the last year and a half, not the CDC. I am convinced they have been fully politically weaponized and are no longer in pursuit of their stated mission.