Smallpox Vaccination - Your Questions?

Hunble | 12/5/02 | Hunble

[Hunble]

Get the facts:

http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/smallpox-images/index.asp

Sorry, I can not remember how to do an HTML link, but if you want to know the factual information about Smallpox, this is your best source.

My father was director of immunization at CDC during the 1970s and I am trying to arrange an interview with him. He will have a unique perspective on this subject.

Today, he has entered the early stages of Alzheimer's, but he should be able to answer our questions.

Any and all intelligent Freeper questions will be relayed to my father and I will posts his answers.

Please post or send by private freeper mail your questions about the Smallpox vaccination.

[Hunble]

Now is the time to get your questions answered!

[chance33_98]

How soon do we nuke em?

[Hunble]

Intelligent questions please....

Personally, the vaccination only works if a pustule forms after the inoculation. I am one of the people that never gets a pustule, even after three attemps to inoculate.

So, what happens to people like me?

[gingerky]

My smallpox vaccine wouldn't "take". The doctor tried to give me the vaccine but I had no reaction. He told my mother not to worry about it because they wouldn't be giving the immunizations after that year anyway (I'm 38). All my friends had the scar but not me! Anyway, I would like to know if that incident meant that I have natural immunity or if by chance it could have been a bad batch of the vaccine. And, if I have natural immunity could my children also be immune to smallpox. Thanks.

[HeadOn]

I was vaccinated in the early/mid 1960s as a child, along with everyone else my age. Is my vaccination still good, or are there new strains that it won't protect me from?

[Hunble]

You and I have the same question. I have been inoculated three times, but it has never "taken."

That is one subject that I could not find answered on the CDC information website that I provided.

[spunkets]

"So, what happens to people like me?"

Sounds like it was a live vaccine? If so, with 3 tries it says you're immune.

[Polycarp]

are there new strains that it won't protect me from?

Apparently there are:

Smallpox in Iraq? CIA Investigates Allegations that Soviet Scientist Transferred Virus to Iraq

" Even if a vaccine were available, it would not stop the spread of this rare strain of smallpox, but Selikoff said it would help limit the number of deaths"

[AnAmericanMother]

Thank you! Been wondering about some things. . .

1. Is this the same smallpox vaccine that we all got back in the 60s and 70s?

2. Has the risk of administering it increased with the lapse in general "herd" immunity, or are the media exaggerating a risk that has not changed?

3. I was vaccinated as a child, and then repeatedly revaccinated as a preteen and teenager because my family travelled widely in the Third World. My husband similarly was vaccinated multiple times in the Army. I have heard of an Israeli study indicating that those who are repeatedly vaccinated have long-lasting immunity compared to those only vaccinated once in infancy. What's the low-down on this?

4. I understand that those with eczema should not be vaccinated. What are the risks/consequences if they are? And are eczema sufferers at risk if others in their household are vaccinated?

5. Should I get my kids vaccinated first, or should I "try it on the dog" and be revaccinated myself first? I want to weigh the potential increased risk of vaccination (if any) versus the risk of their getting infected from my sore (assuming it "takes" this time. The last time I got revaccinated it did not "take".)

Thanks. My very best regards to your father. We dealt with Alzheimer's with my grandfather, and I hope that the disease runs a gentle and nontraumatic course with your dad as it did with him.

[BloomNTn]

Thanks Hunble. Is it possible to survive a smallpox epidemic without being revaccinated? I was vaccinated as a child and am now a healthy 45 year-old. If revaccinated, what side effects can be expected? How long is the wait for immunity? Can you be vaccinated after the outbreak has occurred and be protected?

[AnAmericanMother]

Here's your link: CDC Smallpox Info

I changed it from the "images" page to the general information page. Don't want to scare everybody silly with photos of pustulent skin, now do we? ;-)

[exhaustedmomma]

Two of my children qualified to participate in an experimental smallpox trial last summer. One child formed an enormous pustule... about the size of a gumball (like in those machines at the grocery store.) The other child formed multiple pustules. My question is, what are the chances that those of us living in close quarters with these children will recieve some sort of resitual immunity? I was last immunized in 1960 and my husband in 1970 (or thereabouts, during Vietnam War.) There are 5 other children in the household that have never been innoculated.

Also, what are the chances this could really happen? If it did happen, what would be the best thing to do to protect and care for your family?

[Hunble]

The Smallpox Vaccine

The smallpox vaccine helps the body develop immunity to smallpox. The vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia which is a “pox”-type virus related to smallpox. The smallpox vaccine contains the “live” vaccinia virus—not dead virus like many other vaccines. For that reason, the vaccination site must be cared for carefully to prevent the virus from spreading. Also, the vaccine can have side effects (see the section "Smallpox Vaccine Safety" in this fact sheet). The vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and cannot give you smallpox.

Currently, the United States has a big enough stockpile of smallpox vaccine to vaccinate everyone who might need it in the event of an emergency. Production of new vaccine is underway.

Length of Protection Smallpox vaccination provides full immunity for 3 to 5 years and decreasing immunity thereafter. If a person is vaccinated again later, immunity lasts even longer. Historically, the vaccine has been effective in preventing smallpox infection in 95% of those vaccinated. In addition, the vaccine was proved to prevent or substantially lessen infection when given within a few days of exposure. It is important to note, however, that at the time when the smallpox vaccine was used to eradicate the disease, testing was not as advanced or precise as it is today, so there may still be things to learn about the vaccine and its effectiveness and length of protection.

-------------

I can answer the easy questions, but the difficult ones I will ask my father about.

In 1972, the government decided to no longer provide immunizations against Smallpox. That was a choice that my father made, since he was the person responsible for immunization at that time.

I am very curious to hear the inside story as to why.

----------

Each and every intelligent Freeper question will be relayed to my father. His answers may be rather interesting.

[Hunble]

Thanks for making the easy HTML link. Sorry that I could not have done that.

But as expected, someone like you will always help me out.

[Hunble]

Outstanding questions, and I will relay those.

[AnAmericanMother]

They have completely revised this website since the last time I took a look at it a month or so ago. (Apparently the CDC is gearing up for vaccinations!) Lots more info there, including the answers to a couple of my questions. . . folks who have (or who have EVER had) eczema are at risk for generalized vaccinia and are at risk if household members are vaccinated.

[Hunble]

Normally, I would ignore something like this as "media hype", but there is something serious about the threat of Smallpox.

As you have observed, the CDC is taking this very seriously.

This is a good thing!

[johnny7]

Chances are, if we did get infected by a smallpox attack, we would be quarantined and kept in a sealed perimeter.

Vaccine would be in short supply... Marshall Law comes to mind.

In this war, civilians will be on the front line as well as the military... easier targets.

[Hunble]

No Marshal Law will be needed.

However, until there is enough vaccine to go around for easy single person in the United States, I would give preference to registered Republicans.

[AnAmericanMother]

I agree. If the risks have not changed, they are insignificant compared to a serious outbreak of smallpox. There was an outbreak in the 40s in NYC which was successfully contained, but not before ALL contacts with the victim were vaccinated. With the quick and cheap travel we have now, things could get out of hand quickly.

We'll have to rely on our earlier multiple vaccinations & keep the kids at home, though, because my husband has had eczema. Or else I'll send them to my parents to stay and have them vaccinated there . . .