Vaccine

Current Vaccine

The vaccine contains live vaccinia virus. Vaccine virus can be transmitted to household and other close contacts. Candidates for vaccination must be carefully screened for contraindications. Certain medical conditions in the person’s household contacts must also be considered as contraindications for vaccination. (22:V6:19)

The vaccine that is being developed now is being produced by cell culture methods similar to those used to produce other human vaccines. (19:15) The new smallpox vaccines (as of 2003) (22:V6:17) are distributed as a freeze-dried powder, do not contain antibiotics, and use a diluent that contains glycerine and phenol. The vaccine we’re using now is stable indefinitely at –20¾C. If it’s not reconstituted, it can remain stable for over a year at room temperature. Once reconstituted, it can be kept for at least two months, possibly three, at refrigerator temperature. As its use continues in the United States, these storage times might change as more is learned about the vaccine using the new diluent. (22:V6:10) 

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