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. In the past, about 1,000 people for every 1 million people vaccinated for the first time experienced reactions that, while not life-threatening, were serious. These reactions included a toxic or allergic reaction at the site of the vaccination (erythema multiforme), spread of the vaccinia virus to other parts of the body and to other individuals (inadvertent inoculation), and spread of the vaccinia virus to other parts of the body through the blood (generalized vaccinia). These types of reactions may require medical attention. In the past, between 14 and 52 people out of every 1 million people vaccinated for the first time experienced potentially life-threatening reactions to the vaccine. Based on past experience, it is estimated that 1 or 2 people in 1 million who receive the vaccine may die as a result. Routine smallpox vaccinations were discontinued among U.S. children in 1972, and among U.S. healthcare workers in 1976 after the disease was eradicated in the United States and because of the side effects. Until recently, the U.S. government provided the vaccine only to a few hundred scientists and medical professionals working with smallpox and similar viruses in a research setting. The national smallpox vaccination program announced on December 13, 2002, was the result of an extraordinary policy decision: to vaccinate people against a disease that does not exist with a vaccine that poses some well-known risks. The rationale for such a decision can be considered only against the backdrop of the terrorist and bioterrorist attacks of 2001. Skepticism among key constituencies was followed by a lack of buy-in. Despite their expressed willingness to strengthen preparedness for bioterrorism in general, and their desire to serve their communities, many public health and health care workers were ultimately unwilling to accept the well-known risks of smallpox vaccine in the context of limited information about the risk of smallpox. The lack of buy-in led to poor participation in the vaccination program. In addition to the fact that the rationale for the program and its structure was not explained, communication with key constituencies created confusion and concern. The typically open and transparent communication from CDC—the nations public health leader that generally provides guidance for science-based decision-making—seemed constrained by unknown external influences. For information on this failed vaccination program, read the 2005 Institute of Medicine report, The Smallpox Vaccination Program: Public Health in an Age of Terrorism, at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11240 . For more information on the smallpox vaccine, go to the CDC website http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/facts.asp . This is clipped from the 1955 film Immunization (2nd Ed) produced by Encyclopedia Britannica Film and available at the Internet Archive.
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@MsEllieMay69 Do you work for the US armed services and are stationed/will be stationed in the Middle East? They are the only people I know of who are still required to get the vaccine and only because of borderline paranoia over a highly unlikely biological attack (unlikely as there are few if any places the virus still exists and they are all highly guarded). Otherwise, you are probably confusing it with some other vaccine for another disease like Chicken Pox.
Ranillon 2 months ago
they would be given cow pox as it wasn't a deadly disease, whereas smallpox was. Edward Jenner was the first to invent the vaccine as his milkmaidens would get cowpox but never small pox. If you get cowpox fight then your body can fight of the small pox better leaving you with no scars
concon780 2 months ago
If it went extinct or has been eradicated then why did I just have to get a smallpox vaccine?
MsEllieMay69 3 months ago
@kzam717 Actually, the stopped vaccinating because it went extinct. Vaccines rock!
Snagabott 5 months ago
Hope they find one for monkeypox!
takepart 5 months ago
Hope they find one for monkeypox!
takepart 5 months ago
@pwnwner as long as those anti-vaccine nutties get in power
abarrathemaster 8 months ago
vaccination was stopped,b/c it did more harm than good.It did not guarantee immunity,as having the disease does.The last outbreaks were started by vaccin. individuals;then,as many vacc. as unvacc. got it,w/ about the same mortality rate.In the health field,I'm required to get vaccinations :the only ones benefiting are the pharmaceut. comp.'s and their stockholders.Nobody knows the longterm conseq. of injecting GMM's/pathogens into the bloodstream.In babies,the blood brain barrier is thin...
kzam717 9 months ago
samples of the smallpox virus still exist and are kept as potential biological warfare agents. Apart from this it has been eradicated.
sjhalliwell 10 months ago
Actually smallpox has been completely eradicated. There are a few vials of smallpox left, but the last case of smallpox was in 1979, it has never happened again, nor will it happen ever again.
pwnwner 11 months ago