Smallpox

Alternative Names

Prevention

Many people were vaccinated for smallpox in the past -- but the vaccination is no longer given because the virus has been eradicated. According to the CDC, the United States has supply of the smallpox vaccine sufficient for the entire population at this time.

There are some complications associated with the vaccine, should the vaccine need to be given in the future to control an outbreak. Some of these are easily treated rashes, while other potential complications are more serious. The risk of complications is relatively low. (For example, the chance of encephalitis, which could be a fatal complication, is 1 out of 300,000).

When smallpox was eradicated, the general population was no longer vaccinated because the potential complications and costs began to outweigh the benefits of taking it. The experience of vaccination of both military personnel and civilian health care workers in 2002-2003 suggested that the risk was very low but nonetheless present, and very small numbers of people had unforeseen reactions.

Smallpox vaccination is not currently being done for members of the general public. As of mid-2003, any further vaccination outside of military personnel is likely to be done, in a closely supervised fashion, in health care workers and emergency responders. There is ongoing review of smallpox vaccination, including the current and newer vaccines.