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US military smallpox vaccination program experience.
John D Grabenstein1, William Winkenwerder
1Military Vaccine Agency, US Army Medical Command, Falls Church, VA 22041, USA. john.grabenstein@us.army.mil
JAMA
|June 26, 2003
Summary
The US military
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Infectious Disease Preparedness
Background:
- US military initiated smallpox vaccination program for biological weapon preparedness.
- Resumption of vaccination raised safety and implementation concerns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the US military smallpox vaccination program's implementation and safety outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive study from December 2002 to May 2003.
- Data collected from Department of Defense facilities worldwide.
- Included vaccination numbers, exemptions, symptoms, and adverse events.
Main Results:
- Over 450,000 smallpox vaccinations administered.
- Adverse event rates were generally low and below historical rates.
- No transmission of vaccinia from healthcare workers to patients observed.
Conclusions:
- Mass smallpox vaccination programs can be safely implemented with low serious adverse event rates.
- Emphasis on staff training, screening, and patient education is crucial.
- Programs may have fewer serious adverse events than previously anticipated.
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