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February 07, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Smallpox Primer for Parents"

Parents (www.parents.com) (02/03) Vol. 78, No. 2, P. 63; Wong, Betty S.

As the United States faces the threat of possible bioterrorist attacks, parents want to know whether the smallpox vaccine can be safely administered to children.  The vaccine's risk involves a single pox that appears at the site of the injection, which if touched, could spread the virus elsewhere on the body.  As a result, the vaccine could be potentially lethal to infants, pregnant women, children with eczema, and people with frail immune systems.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is presently advising only ring vaccinations be given in the event of an epidemic, that is, vaccinating only those who have contracted the disease or who have been exposed to an infected person.  Meanwhile, more research needs to be conducted to ascertain the optimum dosage for children.  The vaccine is not available in the U.S. at this time since the federal government does not have enough supplies to vaccinate the entire population.

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