How long do Smallpox vaccinations last?

[smileee]

I am more concerned about smallpox than anthrax. In all the interviews I have watched on the tele, I haven't heard how long a vaccination is good for. Anyone out there know the answer. What's the matter with me...of course there's a Freeper or two or three out there who can answer that question.

[Scutter]

The ones that we got when we were kids lasted about 10 years without boosters.

[R.McGraw]

My daughter told me that they are good for twelve years. (Hope she was paying attention in nursing school!) Ruth

[EggsAckley]

I've been wondering the same thing myself. I heard someone on tv talking about it, and the answer was, they don't really know, because they quit giving them in the seventies. That was because they had "wiped out" smallpox, or so they thought.
A very good question, smileee.

[go star go]

you should be. although it's not nearly as survivable outside the lab...

[hd5574]

I was vaccinated as a baby and revaccinated about 18 yrs later when I went to college. The second vaccination did not take as the first one was still good. The same thing happened to my Mom when she went to Europe but there were a lot more years between her vaccinations than mine. Hope this helps you some.

[goodnesswins]

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 (well, w/smallpox it's probably good to stay away from sneezing/coughing people, too.) Just a little motherly advice. EAT THOSE VEGGIES!!!!

[GWfan]

No one knows for sure, because smallpox is all but eradicated since 1977 (the last known case). The World Health Organization has 300 million vaccines in Switzerland, it's HQ. Relax.

[Katie_Colic]

Ten years according to the web. We are all screwed by this incredible lack of foresight.

[ResistorSister]

Didn't have Smallpox vaccination

[smileee]

Smallpox or anthrax?

[AAABEST]

Now that we're on the subject, anyone know how long an anthrax vaccination lasts?

I got one about 10 years ago. Not that I think I have even the slightest chance of catching it, I am kinda curious though.

[Texas Yellow Rose]

About 10 years. Had an old doctor tell me to try and expose my son to mumps before he entered school instead of having the vaccination. He was concerned because the vaccination wouldn't last ... or I should say ... they didn't know how long it would last.

That was about 1979. Nobody had the mumps then .. nobody I could find.

If there was a small pox outbreak all of us would be in danger, I'm afraid.

[AngrySpud]

Military folks had to get it every 10 years, until recently.

[Movemout]

From a fact sheet at Cornell:

If I was vaccinated against smallpox before 1980, am I still protected?

Probably not. Vaccination has been shown to wear off in most people after 10 years but may last longer if the person has been successfully vaccinated on multiple occasions. If health authorities determine that you have been exposed to smallpox or are at risk of infection, they would recommend that you be re-vaccinated immediately.

[smileee]

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?

[CJinVA]

I think the vaccinations are good for 10 years, and that they stopped giving them to children around 1977.

[Ratatoskr]

So, which vaccine is it that gave everybody over the age of 35 or so that little oval scar on the right shoulder? Was that smallpox, or TB?

Friends were trying to remember last night.

[ResistorSister]

I just did a search and found these pictures. They say this is what smallpox looks like. If you want to learn more about smallpox...just use your computer to do the research...tons of info on the net.

[RobbyS]

Can be bad, On the other hand, my gradmother got it when she was a girl and the only lasting effect was she needed eyeglasses.