Smallpox Vaccination for Response Teams: The Decision is Yours
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Transcript 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