First Small Pox vaccine given

sjoe · Jan 25, 2003

Makes you think, doesn't it.

flowerchild · Jan 25, 2003

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

Since I work in public health I know I'll be one of the first in my state who they will want to vaccinate for small pox.

Will you get vaccinated when it's your turn?

I wonder, are we the elite and eventual lucky few or are we the guinne pigs? (Or unlucky..I shudder to think about what it would be like caring for masses of sick and dying infected people in the event of an outbreak not to mention risks to loved ones). Is the risk really there or is our gov't just trying to do something to placate the public fears? So many questions. So many fears.

I still don't know what I'll do when it's my turn. I was vaccinated for small pox as a child and only remember feeling poorly afterward but no long term ill effects, that I'm aware of anyway.

sr moore, BSN, RN · Jan 25, 2003

Hmmm, I was previously vaccinated as a child, my husband in the military also had it in the mid 80's. If I get the vaccine do I have my whole family get it? Whats the risk of innoculating them? Something to think about!

cindyln · Jan 25, 2003

I work in a military hospital and ALL of the military staff was vaccinated 2 weeks ago. The ones that have children under 1 at home were not vaccinated. The ones that work in direct patient care are to keep their site covered with opsite. The first afternoon after the vaccines were given I got a patient. An active duty soldier who had gotten her vaccine the day before.It was not covered and she was admitted for an ectopic pregnancy. I promptly had to cover it because we are a combined OB/Gyn floor,had new babies that I was also working with. Alot of discussion went into whether she should have been on the floor to begin with but the doctor saw no problem with it.Sorry so lengthy

flowerchild · Jan 25, 2003

You can not innoculate anyone with your small pox vaccination site. What can happen is that the small pox vaccine can cause mild to severe problems for someone else who comes in contact with your innoculation site.

flowerchild · Jan 25, 2003

Here's the link to the CDC's info on small pox.

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

flowerchild · Jan 25, 2003

From: http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/conditions/10/15/smallpox.danger/

Vaccinated people can transmit vaccinia virus

New research on smallpox vaccinations

By Gina Hill

CNN

Tuesday, October 15, 2002 Posted: 6:34 PM EDT (2234 GMT)

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The CDC's smallpox vaccination plan

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(CNN) -- Experts poring over data from past widespread smallpox vaccinations conclude the live virus used in the vaccine may result in cases of contact vaccinia -- the spreading of the vaccinia virus from someone recently vaccinated to someone who has not had the shot.

Vaccinia, a less virulent relative of smallpox, is the live virus used in smallpox vaccinations. People with skin disorders like eczema can spread the virus across their own skin and potentially infect others who aren't vaccinated. The vaccinia virus may cause a rash, fever and head or body aches.

The researchers, led by Dr. John Neff, a former researcher with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Smallpox Eradication Program, discussed what they found in a commentary in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association released today.

Their research focused on mass vaccinations in the United States, United Kingdom and Sweden from 1947 to 1968. Overall, in the U.S. studies, the rate of contact vaccinia was in the range of 2 to 6 per 100,000 vaccinations.

The majority of cases - a few of which resulted in death -- occurred in children with eczema, a skin disorder characterized by itchy red skin and even blisters in severe cases. And the disease was more likely to be spread to people with a history of eczema even though they had no active skin lesions.

Age distribution of those U.S. cases shows young people are more vulnerable to contact vaccinia:

Younger than 1 year: 25 cases

One to 4 years of age: 113 cases

Five to 19 years of age: 40 cases

Twenty years or older: 44 cases

That translates to 62 percent of the cases occurring in children 5 years old or younger and almost 20 percent in those 20 years or older, according to the study.

Most cases happened in the home, with many victims getting the virus from vaccinated family members or playmates. In rare cases, transmission occurred from a vaccinated nurse to a patient.

"The risk (of contact vaccinia) is not large," the researchers write. "This risk needs to be kept in perspective."

But they do admit that - in this day and age - we're more susceptible than past generations. Why?

Since widespread smallpox vaccinations stopped in 1972, almost everyone born since then has no immunity to vaccinia, according to the authors. If vaccinated, this group could spread the virus for up to 19 days. Even those who have had a smallpox shot in the past could shed more of the virus and for a longer period of time depending on how long it's been since their last vaccination and how many shots they've had in all. In short, most people born before 1972 have had only one smallpox shot and they would probably react as if they've never had one at all.

Eczema - also called atopic dermatitis - is more prevalent today. In the United States, rates have increased from 3 percent to 6 percent to 6 to 22 percent in the past 30 years, according to the researchers.

Today there are more people with weak immune systems. The authors theorize that's likely due to the spread of HIV and wider use of drugs to suppress the immune system for cancer patients and organ transplant recipients, for example. "Contact vaccinia in this population could be especially serious," the authors write.

Preparation and a carefully crafted vaccine policy is key to keeping contact vaccinia under control should mass smallpox vaccinations become a reality, according to the commentary.

They recommend public health officials carefully screen for those with a history of eczema and compromised immune systems. The public should be informed about how contact vaccinia is spread and how to avoid it. Finally, a surveillance system needs to be in place to document and track adverse reactions to the vaccine.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Jan 26, 2003

I don't think I would want someone caring for my baby or child that has a fresh vaccine, even if it is covered. We don't allow kids that have immunization within the last month to visit siblings in our unit.

There are still lots of things up in the air as to what if someone has a reaction and has to take time off work, who will pay for it. Still too many if and or buts for me!

Dplear · Jan 26, 2003

I am going to be one of the first responders at my hospital to get the vaccine in the next few weeks. It does not bother or scare me in the least. The hospital is going to cvaccinate 90 people to form the core of a first responder group. We will be responsible for any and all small pox patients that may happen, and as a group with the rest of the ones getting it in the city we will work with the other first responders in case of an attack in setting up a seperate facility for small pox cases where we will be the only ones allowed in or out.

Dave