Side effects to watch for from the smallpox vaccine

The following are signs of potentially risky side effects to watch for after being inoculated against smallpox:

-The development of additional lesions due to transfer of the vaccinia virus (the virus used in the vaccine, which is not the smallpox virus) from the site of the vaccination to other areas of the body. This can happen by touching the vaccination lesion with a bare hand and then touching other parts of the body. To prevent this from happening, the area of the lesion should be treated carefully and hands should be washed with soap and water after treating the area of the lesion.

-Development of an allergic reaction to varying degrees

-Appearance of local eczema or spreading eczema among people who suffer from a skin disease. The eczema usually is mild and disappears by itself, but occasionally it is more serious. Therefore, people who have eczema or who had it in the past should not be vaccinated. Persons who are known to suffer from other active spreading skin diseases such as chicken pox, impetigo. and herpes zoster herpes. or have open burns, should not be vaccinated unless instructed by health professionals, but if they have already recovered, they may receive the vaccination.

-Spread of blisters on the body in varying degrees. Among persons without a history of disease, this requires no special treatment. The appearance of blisters, however, can be serious amongst persons with a weakened immune system disorders. Therefore, anyone who is HIV carrier or has leukemia, lymphoma or an active spreading cancer, or who is receiving chemotherapy, radiation or any other treatment that weakens the immune system (such as orally-administered steroids), should not be vaccinated unless instructed otherwise by health authorities. If there is someone in the household who suffers from one of these active conditions, no one else in the household should be vaccinated unless that person will be absent from the home for two weeks following the vaccination.

-Progressive inflammation of the site of the vaccination, which can be fatal. This reaction occurs almost exclusively in people with a diseases involving a weak immune system. Such people should not be vaccinated unless instructed otherwise by health authorities.

-Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).
-Pregnant women should not be vaccinated against smallpox.
-Women who think they may be pregnant should take a pregnancy test at their health fund before going for a vaccination.
-People who are allergic to eggs to a life-threatening extent should also not receive the shot.

If you have not been vaccinated for one of these reasons, your chances of coming down with smallpox are small since most of the public will have been vaccinated. You may carry on with your normal activities such as going to work, school and social activities.

If you have been exposed, or suspect you have been exposed, to a person with smallpox, immediately consult a doctor. If the authorities decide to vaccinate people in the above categories, separate notice will be given, and they may receive a shot of vaccinia-immune globulin antibodies, which are safer for them.

Smallpox in young children can be very serious. The risk of death is very high in children under the age of four compared to older children.

Infants under the age of one are more likely to develop side effects from the vaccination such as edema of the brain (a rare complication that can occur in 42 per million vaccinated children, but can result in permanent brain damage of even death) or a rash covering the body.

Young children tend to touch the area of the vaccination with their hands and thereby spread the virus to other places on the body such as the eyelids, face, mouth and genital area, causing the formation of additional lesions. This process can be arrested by covering the vaccination lesion and taking care that the child does not touch the area and, if so, thoroughly washes the hands after touching it.

One should wait until the child is over one year of age, unless the child came into contact with or was exposed to an infected person or the virus that causes smallpox. If the authorities decide to vaccinate children under the age of one year, separate notice will be given.

It is up to the parents to decide whether or not to allow their children to be vaccinated. But if your child came into contact with an infected person and you decide not to have him or her vaccinated, the child must be isolated for 18 days. If you decide not to vaccinate your child, you must keep him or her far from persons suspected to be infected with smallpox.

If your child was not vaccinated and lives in a home with a person who was vaccinated after being exposed to smallpox, you should consider temporarily removing the child from the home to prevent contact with the exposed person until the danger of infection has passed.

The exposed person living in the house is usually safe from infection 18 days after contact with the smallpox virus or 14 days after vaccination.

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