HealthBeat: Smallpox Shot Training

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12/20/2002
HealthBeat: Smallpox Shot Training
Despite all the talk about smallpox virus lately, state health officials say it could be the end of January before anyone gets the shot. But as HealthBeat's Jaine Andrews tells us, 'national' health officials have already begun "arming" them for the first phase of the vaccination roll out.

Karen Dover didn't have a choice about getting the smallpox shot as a kid, But she volunteered to be a guinea pig for the next round of vaccinations, "We practiced on each other and I think the lady that practiced on me did it about three times," says Dover. "So I had it more than the once that people will be getting it."

No, she didn't get three times the dosage. They were practicing with salt water at the Centers for Disease Control training in Atlanta this week. Dover explains, "They sent representatives from each state to learn absolutely the correct technique from the CDC and to come back and to train the rest of the nurses that are going to be vaccinators."

It's not enough for healthcare workers simply to learn how to give the smallpox vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control is also training them to recognize the difference between chicken pox and smallpox. In addition, Dover adds, "This vaccine is just give so differently than any other vaccine that we're used to giving."

The smallpox vaccine only needs to get under the skin. It's administered by a two-pronged needle. The tiny prongs hold a droplet of the vaccine which is transferred by just poking the skin of the upper arm about 15 times. "It really does not hurt," says Dover. "You know like I was saying, it's less painful than the finger poke when you get your blood tested and less painful than a vaccination, for instance a flu shot."

But like the flu shot, there are some people who shouldn't get the smallpox shot. Including, if you, or anyone in your home, has had eczema or a previous skin condition known as atopic dermatitis. If you're pregnant, planning to get pregnant within a month of getting the vaccine, or live with a women who is pregnant, you're also not a good candidate for this vaccine. And health officials won't give the shot to anyone under 18. Dover will get the actual vaccine, but not until the C-D-C releases the vaccine to the state.
More Smallpox Information

Jaine Andrews
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