smallpox vaccine

Brand name(s):

Dryvax

What is the most important information I should know about this vaccine?

You should not receive smallpox vaccine if you have heart disease or a history of stroke or heart attack, a skin disorder, if you are pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have received cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment in the past 3 months.

You should also not receive a smallpox vaccine if you or someone in your household has a skin disorder such as eczema (Atopic dermatitis), or a weak immune system caused by disease or by taking certain medicines such as steroids.

If you have a high risk of exposure to smallpox, you may need to receive the vaccine even if you have any of the above conditions.

Before receiving the vaccine, tell your doctor if you have asthma, diabetes, kidney disease, or an autoimmune disorder such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to latex rubber, if you have recently used a steroid eye drop, or if you have any risk factors for heart disease.

A vaccination sore will appear on your skin within 3 to 4 days after you receive this vaccine. This sore may itch and will gradually form a blister filled with pus. As the blister drains and dries up, a scab will form. After you receive the vaccine and until your scab falls off, your vaccination sore will be "contagious" and could spread the virus to anything or anyone who touches it.

Keep your vaccination sore covered with a gauze bandage to keep from spreading the virus to other people or to other parts of your own body. Change your bandage at least once a day.

Always wash your hands with soap and hot water after touching your sore, changing bandages, or handling clothing or other fabrics that have come into contact with your sore.

Avoid touching the sore and then touching other parts of your body (especially your eyes) until you have washed your hands.

Call your doctor at once if you have chest pain, muscle or joint pain, dry cough, feeling short of breath, flu symptoms, stiff neck or back, vomiting, confusion, memory loss, irritability, loss of balance or coordination, problems with speech or vision, sensitivity to light, muscle weakness or paralysis, seizure (black-out or convulsions), a severe skin rash, irritation, infection, or skin changes, or an outbreak of skin sores or blisters anywhere on your body. Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous dose caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with smallpox is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

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