What is Dryvax (smallpox vaccine)?
Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infection that is caused by a virus. Smallpox causes fever and a blistering skin rash. These blisters contain virus and can make the infected person highly contagious. Smallpox is spread from person to person through direct contact, or by coming into contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects such as clothing or bedding. A person with early symptoms of smallpox may or may not be contagious. Once the person forms a smallpox skin rash, the chance of spreading the disease increases until the last smallpox has scab fallen off. The smallpox vaccine contains live “vaccinia” virus (a virus similar to smallpox). For this reason, the vaccination site (the place on your skin where the vaccine is injected) will be contagious and can spread the virus to other parts of your body or to other people. The smallpox vaccine is not given as a routine vaccination to children or adults because the dedicated use of smallpox vaccine in t
