Download Smallpox Vaccination for Response Teams: The Decision is Yours

Smallpox Vaccination for
Response Teams
The Decision is Yours!
of
and
US Government Backs Vaccination
After the events of September and October,
2001, the US government took steps to
improve the country’s preparedness against
terrorism, including bioterrorism.
 On Friday, December 13, 2002, President
Bush announced plans to provide specific
groups of people with smallpox
vaccinations.
 Vaccination is voluntary

Smallpox Response Teams

Public Health Response Teams (5 regional teams)
 Physician team leader
 Epidemiologist
 Public health nurse/vaccinator
 Lab worker
 Law enforcement agent
 State regional planner
 LINCS regional planner
 Industrial hygienist
Smallpox Response Teams

Hospital Health Care Response Teams (1 per hospital)
 ED and ICU nurses, physicians, technicians
 Housekeeping/laundry
 Security
 Respiratory therapy
 Infection control
 Lab
 Sub-specialists: Pulmonary, Dermatology, ID,
Peds, etc
 Engineering/HVAC
 Occupational health/vaccinators
What you need to know…
Smallpox Disease
 Smallpox Vaccine
 Normal and abnormal vaccine reactions
 Caring for the vaccination site
 Who should not get the vaccine
 Risks vs benefits

What you need to know…

Smallpox – The risks
 Smallpox has been eradicated worldwide
 There has not been a case of smallpox
since 1977
 Historically, 30% of smallpox patients
died
 Smallpox virus samples are retained by
two recognized authorities, one in US,
one in Russia
 No imminent threat of an attack with
smallpox
What you need to know…

Smallpox – The Disease
 A serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal
disease caused by variola virus
 Virus spreads through the air, infected body
fluids, contaminated objects such as clothing
and bed linens
 Historically the death rate was 30%
 No specific treatment or cure
 Only prevention is vaccination
 Disease was eradicated worldwide in 1978,
general vaccination in US ended in 1972
Smallpox
What you need to know…

Smallpox – The Vaccine
 The only effective prevention
 Made from live vaccinia virus
 Vaccination site must be cared for very
carefully to avoid further spread of virus
 Side effects
 Provides high level of protection 3-5
years, decreases with time
What you need to know…

Smallpox – The Vaccine cont.
 Vaccine given by a needle with two
points (“bifurcated needle”)
What you need to know…

Needle dipped into a vial of liquid vaccine
What you need to know…

Skin of upper arm is pricked several times
Sore spot and small drop of blood form
What you need to know…

Smallpox Vaccination Progression
What you need to know…

Normal vaccination reactions
What you need to know…

Abnormal vaccination reactions
 Generalized vaccinia
 Inadvertant inoculation
 Death
What you need to know…

When the vaccine virus spreads to other
parts of the body, it is known as
autoinoculation.
What you need to know…

Caring for the vaccination site
 Cover site with gauze bandage, use medical tape to
keep in place
 Wear a shirt that covers the site
 Change bandage every 1-2 days
 WASH HANDS with soap and water after contact
with bandages or touching vaccination site
 Keep site dry. When showering, cover site with a
waterproof bandage or plastic kitchen wrap over
the gauze pad
 Put contaminated bandages in sealed plastic bag
and throw away
 Wash clothing or any other materials that come in
contact with vaccine site
What you need to know…

Caring for the vaccination site
What you need to know…

Smallpox Vaccine – The risks
 The vaccine virus is live and can be
spread to other parts of the body, or to
other people
 Side effects – normal include fever,
soreness, muscle and head aches
 Side effects can also be severe, even life
threatening
 Certain groups of people should not
receive the vaccine
What you need to know…

Who should NOT get the smallpox vaccine
 Eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis,
burns, open skin conditions
 Weakened immune systems
 HIV positive
 Pregnant, breastfeeding
 Cancer
 Transplant recipients
If you or someone you live with has any of the
above conditions, you should NOT receive the
vaccine!!!
What you need to know…
Allergy to vaccine components
 Polymyxin B
 Streptomycin
 Chlortetracycline
 Neomycin
 Allergy to previous dose of smallpox
vaccine

What you need to know…

Smallpox Vaccine – The benefits
 The vaccine offers the best protection
available if you are exposed to smallpox
 Becoming vaccinated would fill a critical
role within your organization’s response
team
Making the Decision…

Points to consider:
 This is a VOLUNTARY program
 Do you, or any household members, have any of
the contraindications?
 Do you feel capable of caring for the vaccination
site properly?
 Do you feel that you can prevent the spread of the
virus to other parts of the body or to others?
 Are you willing to accept the small risk of
potentially serious side effects?
 Are you willing to care for a smallpox patient?
Economic Issues
Liability
 Disability coverage
 Personal insurance
 Non-discrimination
 Confidentiality
