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