Posted on 10/21/2001 10:33:10 PM PDT by bonesmccoy
Just wanted to leave you all some info on Vaccinia vaccination. Basically, last I heard the small pox immunization was not being produced in the USA. There was a report today that DOD has ordered supplies from UK. Frankly, I don't know how the UK could be producing the vaccine. The only known stockpiles of the virus (after World Health Organization/UN announced eradication of the virus from Earth) were in the US and USSR. If a UK company is making vaccine, what is in the vaccine?
The old vaccine was produced using techniques that would not be licensed or approved today. So, the stockpile doesn't meet current specs. Also, my info was that the stockpile is about 20 years old.
I don't know about you guys, but I'm not about to use 20-year-old vaccine in my practice without knowing that the vaccine was needed. I certainly would not use it in our children, unless I was convinced that a threat exists.
I do have the scar from the smallpox vaccine on my arm. My doctor gave it to me in the late 1970's. So, I feel a certain measure of comfort from that knowledge. However, it is important to note that the immunologic effect of the vaccine wanes (decreases) over the years.
Talking-heads on CNN et al have been stating that those who received the vaccine may not be immune. Well, I would like to point out to those @%^*!s that the original small pox vaccine was a LIVE VIRUS. That's why your skin ended up with welts, sores, and then scarred for life. The Japanese used the Oka Chicken Pox Vaccine for 20 years before the US gov't finally got it released to our nation. Have the Japanese seen any waning immunity from Oka Varicella Zoster Vaccine (the chickenpox vaccine)? NO! Yet, there are still idiot talking-heads who are PAID to show up on some news program and to spout incorrect info that the OkaVZV vaccine has concerns about waning immunity. ACCORDING TO WHOM?
The FDA can find an answer to the question of waning smallpox immunity real fast. THOMPSON NEEDS TO TELL CDC TO COMMISSION A FOLLOW-UP STUDY ON THE OLD SMALLPOX IMMUNIZATION. Have CDC draw serum samples on our generation of kids (who got the vaccine when we were young and are now consenting adults). Confirm when the patient received the vaccine and check the sample for any antibodies to smallpox. If you find IgG antibodies (assuming we know how to locate such antibodies, which I can not vouch for), then you will know if boosters are needed in previously immunized individuals.
Vaccinia Vaccine
Vaccinia (smallpox) vaccine, a licensed product, is a preparation of infectious vaccinia virus whose origin and manipulation is FDA approved. The vaccinia is grown in the skin of a vaccinated bovine calf (2). In 1982, the only active licensed producer of vaccinia vaccine in the United States, Wyeth Laboratories, discontinued production for general use, and, in 1983, distribution to the civilian population was discontinued. Smallpox vaccination has not been required for international travelers since January 1982, and International Certificates of Vaccination no longer include smallpox vaccination.
CDC provides vaccinia vaccine for laboratory workers directly involved with smallpox or closely related orthopox viruses (e.g., monkeypox and vaccinia). Due to clinical trials involving recombinant vaccinia virus vaccines, health-care workers (e.g., physicians and nurses) may now be exposed to vaccinia and recombinant vaccinia viruses and should be considered for vaccinia vaccination (6).
There is no evidence that smallpox vaccination has any therapeutic value in the treatment or prevention of recurrent herpes simplex infection, warts, oral thrush, or any other diseases (6). Requests for smallpox vaccine for these unapproved uses cannot be granted.
When my daughter was born, in '73, I was shocked that she hadn't been vacinated for that, so I asked the pediatrican , and was told that it was no longer being given. I begged him to do it anyway, and he said that it wasn't necessary. I'm still angry about that !
You missed the point of my question, avoided answering it, and used it to grandstand. How dare you suggest that I would want anything but the best for my family? How dare you!
The point still remains that we do not yet have an outbreak, the vaccine can be given *after* one starts and still prevent the disease, and some children will die from the vaccine.
I'm having my doubts that any thoughtful physician would respond to a sincere question as you have.
My mom had it put on the inside of my arm so the scar couldn't be seen. Is this vaccine still good at all??
Mine is barely visible now.
I've was told later in life that if you didn't have a scar after receiving it that you had some natural immunity to it.
Explaination could have been BS too.
You can be vaccinated and not have a scar. Mine took for the first time in 1969 and did not take later. I do have a scar from the one that took. My mother never had a vaccination that took until my little brother rubbed against her with his scab. She has about 10 scars.
The article in the New Yorker from 1999 says the stores that the United States has are dried up and virtually unusable. I did see the head guy from the CDC saying that in 3 months we will be well along in being able to vaccinate many Americans and in 6 months we'll be in good shape. Are they telling the truth? I don't know. I did heard Ridge or Thompson saying the first vaccines will roll off the assembly line around December 2001.
After WHO declared the disease erradicated, the vaccine was no longer available to doctors. Between around 1970 and the present the only entity in the United States allowed to possess the vaccine is the US military. I got this information from my doctor last week.
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