Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox Vaccine (Vaccinia)
1. Percutaneous Vaccine described here with multiple adverse effects and complications (see below)
2. Administered every 10 years if exposed to Vaccinia (every 3 years if exposed to Variola virus, Monkey Pox)
Live, Non-Replicating Smallpox Vaccine (Jynneos)
1. Subcutaneous 0.5 ml Vaccine administered at 0 and 4 weeks
2. FDA approved for age over age 18 years for Smallpox and Monkeypox exposure risk
3. No severe adverse effects

Also applies to conditions in household or sex contacts
Consider concurrent Variola Immunoglobulin 0.3 ml/kg
Eczematous Dermatitis
Exfoliative condition (e.g. Burn Injury, Shingles)
Immunodeficiency
1. Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy
2. Immunosuppresant use within 3 months of Vaccine
3. Corticosteroids (including ocular Corticosteroids)
  1. Prednisone >2 mg/kg/day for over 2 weeks or
  2. Prednisone 20 mg/day for over 2 weeks
4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
5. Hereditary Immunodeficiency
6. Pregnancy
7. Concurrent moderate to severe illness
Heart disease or 3 or more Cardiac Risk Factors
Age under 12 months
Unless emergency, avoid use if age under 18 or over 65
Breastfeeding
Allergy to Vaccine components
1. Polymyxin B, Streptomycin, Tetracycline or Neomycin
2. Phenol
3. Latex Allergy (Latex in Vaccine vial stopper)

Obtain sterile bifurcated needle
Dip needle into reconstituted Vaccine ampule
Limit Vaccine to 5 mm area
Scratch skin with 15 perpendicular needle strokes
1. Trace of blood should appear with 15-30 seconds
Wipe excess Vaccine from skin
Apply bandage securely to inoculation site
Storage of Vaccine
1. Vaccine may be refrigerated 60 days post-reconstitution

Keep site always covered to prevent virus transmission
1. Change dressing every 1-3 days
2. Dispose of dressings as infectious waste
3. Do not apply any topical agents (e.g. cream) to site
Site care to prevent autoinoculation or transmission
1. Infectious from day 3 to 28 (when scab falls off)
2. Avoid touching or exposing others to site
3. Wash skin carefully if accidental exposure occurs
Other measures to prevent transmission
1. Isolate linen and clothing from others in house
2. Avoid public swimming until scab falls off (4 weeks)
3. Wear long sleeve clothing over bandaged site
Should not disrupt work in most occupations
1. Food preparation may continue
2. Travel is not contraindicated
3. Healthcare workers may still care for patients

Uniform skin response (Jennerian response, "Take")
1. Red Papule at Vaccine site by 3 days
2. Vesicle by day 5
3. Jennerian Pustule by day 7
  1. White, umbilicated Pustule on erythematous base
4. Dark crust forms and falls off by 3 weeks
5. Full progression timing depends on prior exposure
  1. Primary Vaccination: 15 days
  2. Revaccination: 8 days
Inadequate Vaccination (Requires re-Vaccination)
1. Peak erythema within 48 hours (Hypersensitivity)
Common Constitutional symptoms
1. Fever between days 4-14 (70% of children)
2. Regional Lymphadenopathy

Post-vaccine Encephalitis (15 per 1 million Vaccinees)
1. Occurs within 2 weeks of Vaccine
2. Mortality: 25%
3. Morbidity: Serious neurologic sequelae in 25%
4. No treatment other than supportive care
Progressive Vaccinia (Vaccinia gangrenosa)
1. Only occurs in immunodeficient patients
2. Suspect if lesions progress beyond 2 weeks
3. Non-healing skin lesions progressing to skin necrosis
4. Frequently fatal
5. May respond to medications
  1. Variola Immunoglobulin 0.6 ml/kg divided over 24 h
  2. Cidofovir (Vistide)
  3. Ribavirin
Eczema Vaccinatum (10-39 per 1 million Vaccinees)
1. Occurs if patient has Atopic Dermatitis
2. Variola skin lesions involve Eczematous skin
3. Variola Immunoglobulin 0.6 ml/kg divided over 24 hour
  1. Reduces potential mortality from 40% to 1%
Autoinoculation (600 per 1 million Vaccinees)
1. Accidental inoculation of face, eyes, mouth, genitals
Other complications
1. Generalized Vaccinia
  1. Onset 6-9 days after Vaccination
  2. Benign with resolution within 2 weeks
2. Ocular Vaccinia
  1. Opthalmology referral
  2. Avoid VIG (Corneal Opacity risk)
  3. Consider ocular antiviral (e.g. Trifluridine)
3. Myopericarditis
  1. Presents within 30 days of Vaccination
  2. Recently reported as more common adverse effect

Single dose results in protection by 10 days in 95%
Immunity lasts 5 years or more after Vaccination
1. Booster dose extends duration of Immunity

Most Vaccinations are safe to concurrently administer
Do not administer with Varicella Vaccine
1. Due to differentiating potential reactions
Do not use with Immunosuppressants or Corticosteroids
1. See contraindications above