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September 25, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Medical Conditions Create Vulnerability to Vaccine"

New York Times (www.nytimes.com) (09/24/02) P. A16; Grady, Denise

Due to the increased number of HIV infections, organ transplants, and skin disorders, more people are at risk of complications from a smallpox vaccine than in the past when pregnant women, babies under a year old, and patients with cancer or autoimmune diseases were the largest groups at risk of adverse events from the smallpox vaccine.  Adverse reactions can be countered by the drug vaccinia immune globulin, but the United States has only about 700 doses of the drug currently available, though more is in production.  The Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and a private company are in negotiations to produce a less potent smallpox vaccine that would reduce the number of adverse events, but in the meantime, a national emergency would mean screening high risk patients and advising them to avoid vaccination until there is enough vaccinia immune globulin to treat them.

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