Smallpox
Outbreak Control Activities and Strategies
Vaccination
Strategy (22:V1:57)
There are essentially
2 groups of people who may receive smallpox vaccine, those already
exposed and those not already exposed.
Of those that
are already exposed, the goal is to prevent or decrease illness.
They must be monitored for smallpox. For those that are already
exposed there are NO contraindications
for vaccination. The benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk
of the disease.
For those not
already exposed, the goal is to prevent illness. Since they have
not been exposed they don’t require monitoring for smallpox.
In regards to vaccination, if contraindications exist
the patient should NOT be vaccinated.
Take extra precautions to prevent exposure if unexposed patients
can’t be vaccinated because of contraindications.
Priority
Groups for Vaccination (22:V1:58-59)
Those with the
greatest risk (exposure or imminent exposure to smallpox virus)
have top priority for vaccination. This includes: persons targeted
by an intentional release, face-to-face contacts with smallpox
patients, household members of contacts under surveillance, personnel
whose responsibilities will directly expose them to cases or infectious
materials (medical, public health responders, etc.) and other essential
response personnel (police, military, etc.).
Persons who
have not been exposed to smallpox virus may be vaccinated if there
is enough vaccine and if there is enough personnel to provide the
vaccination services. The top priority for vaccine and vaccination
resources should always be to find the contacts and vaccinate them
quickly.
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