"Researchers Test New Smallpox Vaccine for Fewer Side Effects"
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"Researchers Test New Smallpox Vaccine for Fewer
Side Effects" Duluth News-Tribune (web.duluthnews.com) (12/11/02); Majeski, Tom
The Mayo Clinic is testing a new smallpox
vaccine to find out if it has fewer side effects than the older one. Dr. Greg
Poland, director of the Mayo Vaccine Research Group, and his colleagues intend
to test the new vaccine this February on people who have already received a
smallpox vaccine. The new vaccine contains the same strain as the old one, but
it is grown on sterile cultures of human cells, instead of harvested from
infected cows. Poland explains that the researchers expect some side effects,
but hopefully there will be fewer local and systemic complications. One
volunteer for the current testing said he experienced a few days of minor aches,
swelling at the inoculation site, and tender lymph nodes. Toddlers, pregnant
women, and those with compromised immune systems or chronic skin conditions
should avoid both the vaccine and those who are newly vaccinated.
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