How long do Smallpox vaccinations last?

[dalereed]

I was vacinated in 1937 and INS gave me another one in 1958 when I returned from Mexico and the second one didn't take at all so the first one was still effective.

[Inspectorette]

That was for smallpox. You used to have to be vaccinated before they'd let you start school.

I hope the Government is starting to make the vaccine again, because I think we're gonna need it. The anthrax thing is going to fade because people are aware of it and are going to take precautions. Smallpox is a different story, and it is contagious, which is even more scary.

[curmudgeonII]

In theory, one vaccination may last for a lifetime. A live virus is used for vaccination purposes----it is thought that the virus exists in cells permanently and, from time to time, is released in small quantities into the blood stream, keeping antibodies at a high level.

[Jean S]

There is a lot of information about smallpox available here:

http://jama.ama-assn.org/issues/v281n22/ffull/jst90000.html

[fourdeuce82d]

Is that what smallpox looks like? I really don't even know what it does to you or how it kills you or anything. Pretty dumb, huh?

Absolutely not. knowing that you don't know something is the only way to learn.

here's something i found just now:

During the past century, the prototypical disease, variola major, caused mortality of 3% and 30% in the vaccinated and unvaccinated, respectively. Routine smallpox vaccination was discontinued in the United States in 1972. Immunity from prior smallpox vaccination wanes with time and at this point, the entire United States' civilian population is likely susceptible. However, persons who have been vaccinated in the past may experience less severe disease.

Please don't call yourself dumb for not knowing something- here's what Socrates had to say about that:

"He thinks that he knows something which he does not know, whereas I am quite concious of my ignorance. At any rate it seems that I am wiser than he is to this small extent, that I do not think that I know what I do not know.

[WxMan2000]

The scar on our arms is the mark of the old-style polio vaccine. I beleive now that it's taken orally.

[Faith-Hope]

I was first vaccinated in 1948. Sometime around 1965 I had a second vaccination and it did not take. My Doctor told me at that time the first was still good. I'm not sure anyone knows how long the vaccinations last.

[ODDITHER]

Ten years. When I couldn't get my youngest daughter a small pox vaccination, I was horrified. I couldn't believe that with small pox in the Middle East still, we aren't vaccinating. Small Pox on the back of stamps - Easy to do and easy to spread. If you have ever seen a case of small pox it is just horrifying. We would see children so covered with the pox that the mothers would carry them naked because they couldn't stand to have anything touching their skin. Most of them die, as will our children.

[shezza]

Keep your immune systems healthy folks...eat well, take vitamins, take care of yourselves and you'll be better prepared to fight any infectious diseases whether it's the flu or smallpox...

Ditto that, GW. We're stocking up on Vitamin C, super anti-oxidant tablets, B vitamins, and a good supply of a daily multi for both us and the children. An illness like smallpox or flu or something like that which is highly contagious is more likely caught by people who are run down or in generally weaker health, anyway. We've also got several bottles (I keep one in my purse) of no-wash antibacterial gel, and I make the kids use it after we've been anywhere, like Target to look at toys (picking up things that perhaps a sick kid has touched) or to the park (sliding their hands along the same rails other kids have used)--and always before we eat out. Keeping hands clean, turning your head away from a cougher or sneezer, avoiding touching a lot of public-access rails and door panels (or using antibacterial gel immediately after)--lots can be done to protect self and loved ones. And start by keeping your immune system healthy!!!

[Jean S]

The scar on our arms is the mark of the old-style polio vaccine.

The scar on the arm is from the smallpox vaccination. Polio vaccine was never administered that way.

[Sabertooth]

Is it the smallpox itself that is lethal, or infections of the open sores?

[CharacterCounts]

The reason they stopped vacinating for smallpox was that the disease was completely eradicated from the world population. They ceased vacinating because more people died from the vacination than from the disease.

[CJinVA]

South of Round Hill? You must be just down the road a piece from us.

719, between business 7 and the bypass.

[Blackadar]

A few years back the Ontario government tried to make all kids in grades 7 and 8 get vaccinated for mumps. The reason was that there were supposed to have been batches of vaccine used years previously which turned out to have given no immunity. Over the course of raising 3 kids I observed that there seemed to be more and more needles given so I started to read up on this. I didn't like a lot of what I read especially in light of the fact that pharmaceutical companies do have a vested interest and a very close relationship to the federal government. So I decided instead of getting more needles to have a blood titre done on each of my kids for the antibodies in question. I got a few odd looks at the clinic, but I got what I wanted and the titres all came back showing my kids had immunity. I was then able to give scientific proof to the snotty health nurses who tried to play the old " your kids will be removed from school" threat. I did find that natural immunity from having a sickness like chicken pox is lifelong where as artificially immunity runs out after 10 years. There was some suggestion in what I read that this was deliberate on the part of the pharmeceutical companies because it is a money maker for them. After all if there is no sickness, they are out of business. It is hard to know who to believe. Obviously there is a place for vaccinations.

[Sir Percy Hot Spurs]

The scar on your arms is Small Pox...The gals could get it on the thigh...Polio was given on a cube of sugar...Sir Percy Hot Spurs

[Dave S]

Ten years to be safe but they are long gone after twenty years and its been more than twenty years since there was any disease to vacinate against (except in lab). In other words, unless youve had small vacination in last two or three years, your not covered.

[gwmoore]

I have heard various things on this. I was vaccinated in 1947 when I was born, then at numerous times in the military, none of which "took" (1965-1975) meaning that I was still protected.

I was told that there was no more point in revaccinating, since once taken, you are protected.

I have no idea what the "official" line was or is, but none after the one I had when I was an infant "took".

Keep the Faith for Freedom

MAY GOD BLESS AND DEFEND THIS HONORABLE REPUBLIC

Greg

[not-an-ostrich]

My arm scar is from smallpox vaccination.

[fourdeuce82d]

"Is it the smallpox itself that is lethal, or infections of the open sores?"

My understanding is the disease itself is lethal without secondary infections...

'course I don't know that. *grin*

[randita]

I hope the Government is starting to make the vaccine again, because I think we're gonna need it.

I wonder how long it takes to manufacture the vaccine. I heard that the U.S. only has 12 million smallpox vaccines on hand right now. That's not going to go very far in a population of almost 300 million.