FDA recently licensed a new smallpox vaccine called ACAM2000 which is made by Acambis Inc. This new vaccine is not available for routine use, but will be stored in the country's Strategic National Stockpile. It could be used to inoculate people at high risk of smallpox exposure during a bioterrorist attack.
ACAM2000 is derived from the Dryvax smallpox vaccine, which is no longer made and in limited supply. The new vaccine is made with modern cell culture technology, which allows the vaccine to be produced on a large scale with more consistent quality.
The new vaccine was studied in two populations: those who'd never been vaccinated for smallpox and those who'd been vaccinated many years before. The percentage of unvaccinated people who had a successful immunization reaction was similar to that of the older vaccine. The new vaccine was also found to be acceptable as a booster for those previously vaccinated for smallpox.
Because the new vaccine contains live vaccinia virus, vaccinated people must be careful not to spread the virus from the inoculation site to other parts of their body or to other people. People who receive the vaccine must be given a Medication Guide that explains how to care for the vaccination site properly and lists the serious side effects that can occur.
FDA Patient Safety News: November 2007
For more information, please see our website:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/psn/transcript.cfm?show=69#1
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caution! this is propaganda!
Leaves a nasty scar if they don't get the dosage right.
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