[SCalGal]

"The incubation period for smallpox is roughly 12-14 days. The smallpox vaccine is considered effective administered up to five days following exposure (before the rash appears)."

Considering that the government cannot even manage to send bullets with the national guard (LA riots), I wouldn't trust them to get vaccines to us within 5 days of exposure.

Best to be prepared - that means get vaccinated ahead of time.

[NautiNurse]

The vaccine is in no way a magic bullet. First, it may not be effective against a bioterrorist viral strain.

More disturbing are the potential complications from the vaccine. This can include blindness caused by touching the vaccination site when the virus is shedding, then rubbing the eye.

Mortality rates from smallpox (roughly 30%) were estimated in the period prior to widespread antibiotic availability for the common secondary infections.