Vaccination-Related Side Effects, Humoral Immunity, and Adverse Events during the Civilian Smallpox Vaccination Campaign, Arkansas, 2003.
OBJECTIVE
Smallpox vaccination has been associated with notable side effects and adverse events. This study assessed the frequency of each among public health workers immunized during the 2003 Arkansas civilian smallpox vaccination campaign to allow individuals and policymakers to make informed decisions whether repeat vaccination, as recommended in 10-year intervals, should be considered.


DESIGN AND SAMPLE
This descriptive study summarizes postvaccination surveillance data for all civilians receiving smallpox vaccine (Dryvax) in Arkansas in 2003.


MEASURES
Rates of side effects and adverse events were determined. Vaccinia-specific antibody titers among a subset of public health response team members were also assessed.


RESULTS
Of the 1,124 vaccine recipients, 87% had a major take response. Substantial symptomatology, a 2% adverse event rate, a 0.5% hospitalization rate, and zero inadvertent transmission following vaccination were observed. Vaccinia-specific antibody titers increased on average 9-fold from 2.21*10(2) to 2.16*10(3) one month after vaccination. We found no association of age, sex, or racial subgroups with adverse events, hospitalizations, a lower take response rate, or lower postvaccination antibody titers.


CONCLUSIONS
Prominent side effect profiles and adverse events among study participants seem to support individual and institutional reluctance to vaccinate civilians in the absence of smallpox reemergence.
['Haselow|Dirk|D|']
D000328:Adult D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems D000914:Antibodies, Viral D001131:Arkansas D005260:Female D006282:Health Personnel D006801:Humans D056724:Immunity, Humoral D017589:Immunization Programs D008297:Male D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital D008875:Middle Aged D064689:Nurses, Public Health D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital D011634:Public Health D012899:Smallpox D012900:Smallpox Vaccine
immunization smallpox vaccination nursing workforce