Adverse events associated with smallpox vaccination

摘要

In 2003, the US Department of Health and Human Services implemented a preparedness program in which smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine was administered to screened federal, state, and local volunteers who might be first responders during a bioterrorism event. However, based on previous experiences with the smallpox vaccine, there were major concerns in some quarters about possible serious adverse reactions to this vaccine. Therefore, a group in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surveyed adverse reactions to smallpox vaccine administered in January-October 2003 using data reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the CDC.