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If a person responds to a smallpox vaccine with a generalized vaccinia, does this provide them with lifetime immunity to smallpox? If no, when is another smallpox vaccine contraindicated?

April 26, 2017contraindicated generalized Immunity lifetime person Responds smallpox vaccine vaccinia

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If a person responds to a smallpox vaccine with a generalized vaccinia, does this provide them with lifetime immunity to smallpox? If no, when is another smallpox vaccine contraindicated?

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Generalized vaccinia is the result of the systemic spread of virus from the vaccination site. Despite the appearance of the lesions, it is a totally benign complication of primary vaccination. Its frequency is not known but it is believed to be rare. There is no lifetime immunity from the vaccine. Past experience indicates that the first dose of the vaccine offers high level protection from smallpox for 3 to 5 years, with decreasing immunity thereafter. If a person is vaccinated again later, immunity lasts longer.