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May 23, 2003

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Smallpox Vaccine, Heart Inflammations May Be Linked”

Atlanta Journal-Constitution (www.accessatlanta.com/ajc) (05/23/03) P. 7A; Wahlberg, David

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has uncovered a possible link between the smallpox vaccine and heart inflammations.  The CDC said Thursday that about 24 civilians have developed inflammation around the heart or surrounding membranes after receiving the smallpox vaccine, and the Defense Department reported similar symptoms in 27 members of the military who had received the vaccine.  During the 1950s and 60s, when smallpox vaccination was routine, the number of cardiac events were rare; however, the number has gone up since the government reactivated smallpox vaccinations in case of a possible bioterrorism attack.  Many of the individuals vaccinated back then were children, and the primary tests used today to identify heart disease had not yet been developed.  Dr. J. Michael Lane, former head of the CDC's smallpox eradication program, also noted that some of the heart problems may be unrelated to the vaccine. Earlier this year, the CDC recommended against smallpox vaccination for people with heart disease or at least three risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.