What is the risk of developing smallpox?
Smallpox does not exist as a naturally occurring disease anywhere in the world. The only risk of smallpox would come from the use of smallpox as a weapon of bioterrorism. Government security experts believe that bioterrorists in several countries may have smallpox. No one knows for certain whether or not they have smallpox or if smallpox will be used as a weapon. Most infectious disease experts believe that the risk of any individual being exposed to smallpox is extremely low. How good is this vaccine? No vaccine is perfect. The smallpox vaccine provides approximately 95 percent protection against smallpox. This is about as effective as most other live viral vaccines. What kinds of adverse reactions can occur? The smallpox vaccine causes a local infection on the arm. A small group of blisters or vesicl es develop associated with inflammation, swelling, and tenderness that lasts for one to two weeks. About 10 percent of people develop an exaggerated reaction with more marked swelling, r
