Chloe Ramirez
The smallpox vaccine contains a live vaccinia virus, a pox-type virus related to smallpox but less harmful. It does not contain the smallpox virus and cannot give you smallpox. The vaccinia virus is closely related to horsepox and cowpox. The smallpox vaccine protects people from smallpox by helping their body develop immunity to smallpox. The replication-competent smallpox vaccines ACAM2000 and APSV can protect people from getting sick or lessen the severity of the disease if administered before or within a week of exposure to smallpox. Third-generation vaccines are based on attenuated strains of vaccinia and saw limited use before smallpox was eradicated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does the smallpox vaccine contain a weakened strain? | The smallpox vaccine contains a live vaccinia virus, not a weakened or killed virus. |
| Who should not get the smallpox vaccine? | Anyone under the age of 18 unless exposed to smallpox, pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with weakened immune systems, people with certain allergies, and people with skin conditions such as eczema or atopic dermatitis. |
| What are the side effects of the smallpox vaccine? | More common side effects include itching, sore arm, fever, headache, body ache, mild rash, and fatigue. Serious side effects, including death, can occur in a small percentage of recipients. |
| When was smallpox eradicated? | Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980 due to worldwide vaccination programs. Routine vaccination in the American public stopped in 1972 after the disease was eradicated in the United States. |
| What is smallpox? | Smallpox is an acute, contagious, and sometimes fatal disease caused by an orthopoxvirus. It is marked by fever and a progressive skin rash. |
| What is the smallpox vaccine made from? | The smallpox vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia, which is a poxvirus similar to smallpox but less harmful. |
| What are the types of smallpox vaccines? | ACAM2000, APSV, JYNNEOST, Elstree-BN, VV Lister CEP, and first, second, and third-generation vaccines. |
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What You'll Learn
The smallpox vaccine contains a live vaccinia virus
The smallpox vaccine is manufactured by Emergent Product Development Gaithersburg, Inc. and sold under the proprietary name ACAM2000. It is a second-generation smallpox vaccine, and there are also third-generation vaccines available, which are based on attenuated strains of vaccinia. The ACAM2000 vaccine is designed to protect people from getting sick or to make the disease less severe if they receive the vaccine either before or within a week of coming into contact with the smallpox virus.
Smallpox is an acute, contagious, and sometimes fatal disease caused by an orthopoxvirus. It is characterized by fever and a progressive skin rash. Smallpox was eradicated in 1980 due to worldwide vaccination programs, and routine vaccination among the American public stopped that same year. Currently, smallpox vaccines are not recommended for the general public as the disease has been eradicated. However, health officials would use smallpox vaccines to control an outbreak if one were to occur.
The smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and cannot spread or cause smallpox. However, careful screening of potential vaccine recipients is essential to ensure that those at increased risk of side effects do not receive the vaccine. People with weakened immune systems, certain allergies, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and those with specific skin conditions are advised against receiving the smallpox vaccine unless exposed to the disease.
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The vaccinia virus is a poxvirus similar to smallpox but less harmful
The smallpox vaccine protects people from smallpox by helping their bodies develop immunity to the disease. The vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia, which is a poxvirus similar to smallpox but less harmful. The smallpox vaccine contains a live vaccinia virus, not a killed or weakened virus like many other vaccines. The vaccinia virus is closely related to the virus that causes cowpox, and historically the two were often considered the same. However, in 1939, it was demonstrated that the modern smallpox vaccine was serologically distinct from cowpox, and vaccinia was subsequently recognized as a separate viral species. Whole-genome sequencing has revealed that vaccinia is most closely related to horsepox.
The smallpox vaccine cannot give you smallpox as it does not contain the smallpox virus. However, the vaccine does contain a live vaccinia virus, which can spread to other parts of the body or to other people from the vaccine site. Therefore, people who are vaccinated must take precautions when caring for the place on their arm where they were vaccinated, so they can prevent the vaccinia virus from spreading. The vaccinia virus is typically very mild and often does not cause symptoms in healthy individuals, although it may cause a rash and fever. Immune responses generated from a vaccinia virus infection protect the person against a lethal smallpox infection.
Vaccinia is also used in recombinant vaccines, as a vector for expression of foreign genes within a host, in order to generate an immune response. Other poxviruses are also used as live recombinant vaccines. The original vaccine for smallpox, and the origin of the idea of vaccination, was cowpox, described by Edward Jenner in 1798. The Latin term used for cowpox was Variolae vaccinae, Jenner's own translation of "smallpox of the cow". That term lent its name to the whole idea of vaccination. When it was realized that the virus used in smallpox vaccination was not, or was no longer, the same as cowpox, the name "vaccinia" was used for the virus in the smallpox vaccine.
First and second-generation smallpox vaccines contain live unattenuated vaccinia virus and can cause serious side effects in a small percentage of recipients, including death in 1–10 people per million vaccinations. Third-generation vaccines are based on attenuated strains of vaccinia and saw limited use before smallpox was eradicated. The JYNNEOS™ vaccine, which is also used for mpox, uses an attenuated (weakened) virus and a more traditional shot. It has a lower risk of side effects than other smallpox vaccines.
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The smallpox vaccine cannot give you smallpox
The smallpox vaccine protects people from smallpox by helping their bodies develop immunity to smallpox. Routine smallpox vaccination among the American public stopped in 1972 after the disease was eradicated in the United States. Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980 following global vaccination programs. Currently, smallpox vaccines are not recommended for the general public because smallpox has been eradicated.
However, the smallpox vaccine does have side effects and can cause serious adverse events in a small percentage of recipients, including death. People who are most at risk of side effects include those with weakened immune systems, such as those who have received a transplant, are HIV positive, or are receiving treatment for cancer. People with certain skin conditions, such as eczema or atopic dermatitis, are also at increased risk of side effects.
If there were a smallpox outbreak, health officials would use smallpox vaccines to control it. There are currently two replication-competent smallpox vaccines available: ACAM2000 and APSV. These vaccines can protect people from getting sick or make the disease less severe if administered before or within a week of exposure to smallpox.
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The ACAM2000 vaccine is a second-generation smallpox vaccine
The smallpox vaccine protects people from smallpox by helping their bodies develop immunity to the disease. The smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and therefore cannot spread or cause smallpox. Instead, the vaccine contains a live virus called vaccinia, which is a "pox"-type virus similar to smallpox but less harmful.
The ACAM2000 vaccine is made from a live replicating vaccinia virus, which is sufficiently closely related to smallpox to provide immunity. The vaccinia virus in ACAM2000 is not a weakened virus, but rather a live virus, which means it can spread to other parts of the body or to other people from the vaccination site. Therefore, it is important to carefully care for the vaccination site to prevent the spread of the virus.
As with other smallpox vaccines, ACAM2000 poses risks and may cause side effects. Most people who have taken the vaccine only report mild reactions, such as a sore arm, fever, and body aches. However, some people may experience more serious side effects, including life-threatening reactions. According to the FDA, common adverse events include inoculation site signs and symptoms, lymphadenitis, and constitutional symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, fever, myalgia, and headache. These reactions are less frequent in people being revaccinated than in those receiving the vaccine for the first time.
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The JYNNEOST vaccine uses an attenuated (weakened) virus
The smallpox vaccine protects people from smallpox by helping their bodies develop immunity to the disease. The vaccine contains a live virus called vaccinia, which is a poxvirus similar to smallpox but less harmful. It is important to note that the smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus and cannot give someone smallpox.
The JYNNEOS vaccine, also used for mpox, is unique in that it uses an attenuated (weakened) virus. This means that the virus has been modified to be less virulent while still triggering an immune response. This is in contrast to other smallpox vaccines, which contain the live vaccinia virus.
The use of a weakened virus in the JYNNEOS vaccine offers several advantages. Firstly, it reduces the risk of adverse reactions and side effects compared to vaccines containing a live virus. This is especially important for individuals with weakened immune systems or certain medical conditions. By using an attenuated virus, the JYNNEOS vaccine provides a safer option for those who may be more vulnerable to potential side effects.
Secondly, the attenuated virus in the JYNNEOS vaccine allows for a more traditional method of administration, typically involving a standard shot. This is unlike other smallpox vaccines, such as ACAM2000, which require specialized administration techniques. The ease of administration of the JYNNEOS vaccine simplifies the vaccination process and makes it more accessible to a wider range of healthcare providers.
The development of the JYNNEOS vaccine with its attenuated virus is a significant advancement in the field of smallpox prevention and treatment. By offering a safer and more accessible option, this vaccine contributes to the ongoing efforts to protect public health and ensure preparedness in the event of a smallpox outbreak.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the smallpox vaccine contains a live vaccinia virus, not a killed or weakened one.
Vaccinia is a "pox"-type virus related to smallpox but causes a milder disease.
The smallpox vaccine does not contain the smallpox virus because it could spread or cause smallpox.
