Is there any treatment for complications of smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine?
Yes Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG) is approved and has efficacy against certain of the more common serious vaccine reactions such as eczema vaccinatum and disseminated vaccinia. However, VIG is not effective against vaccinia encephalitis, and is contraindicated in vaccinia keratitis (VIG may worsen the keratitis and loss of vision). VIG only has efficacy against vaccinia virus (the virus contained in the vaccine). VIG has NO efficacy against actual smallpox disease (variola virus). VIG is only given intramuscularly and requires large volumes (e.g., 42 ml for a 70 kg person [0.6 ml/kg]). Repeated doses may be needed. VIG is in limited supply and is only available from the CDC under an FDA Investigation New Drug (IND) protocol.
