How much smallpox vaccine is available?
Currently, we have a stockpile of 85 million doses of vaccine. A recent National Institute of Health study found that the existing supply can be increased to make enough for the entire population in the event of an outbreak. A contract has been issued to produce an additional 210 million doses this year. It is anticipated that a total of 286 million doses of smallpox vaccine will be available at the end of this year. The CDC’s Strategic National Stockpile has developed protocols to allow for the rapid, simultaneous delivery of smallpox vaccine to every state and US territory within 12-24 hours. State and local governments are developing response plans to provide for the rapid distribution of vaccine on a large-scale basis.
