Is it still necessary for children to get the smallpox vaccine (smallpox)?

Vaccinations are the most effective drugs for preventing diseases caused by viruses. Vaccines function to build immunity in the body's immune system against viral infections. Now, there are various vaccines available that can prevent various dangerous diseases. However, it all started with the discovery of the first vaccine that succeeded in eradicating smallpox or smallpox smallpox .

A brief history of the discovery of the smallpox vaccine

The smallpox vaccine was the first vaccine that succeeded in providing protection in the body against infection by pathogenic viruses. This vaccine was discovered by an English doctor, Edward Jenner, in 1776.

In the history of vaccines, the concept of vaccination was discovered from the ongoing cowpox epidemic.

As written in the article Smallpox Vaccine: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, at that time, dr. Jenner conducted experiments on several people using the cowpox virus (cowpox) to provide an immune effect against the variola virus infection that causes smallpox (smallpox).

From the results of the experiment, 13 people who had been infected with cowpox then had immunity against smallpox. The discovery of dr. Jenner was then used as the basis for research to produce a smallpox vaccine.

Usage and dosage of smallpox vaccine

Other vaccines are composed of weakened genetic components of the disease-causing virus. However, the smallpox vaccine is made from the vaccinia virus, a virus that is in the same family as the Variola virus but is less dangerous.

Currently the vaccine for smallpox is known as the second generation vaccine, namely ACAM2000. This vaccine contains a live virus, so the use of the vaccine needs to be done carefully so as not to cause transmission of the disease by the virus.

The way a vaccine works is to make your immune system build a defense against the smallpox virus. When the smallpox virus enters and tries to infect the body, the immune system can immediately dispel the virus from destroying healthy cells in the body.

The effectiveness of this vaccine in preventing variola virus infection reaches 95 percent. Even vaccines are also quite effective in reducing infection if given within a few days after a person is exposed to the variola virus.

One dose of the vaccine will be injected using a special injection technique. According to the CDC, the smallpox vaccine can effectively provide protection for 3 to 5 years.

After that, the protective ability of the vaccine will slowly decrease, so you need to get it booster or follow-up vaccinations.

Why is it necessary to do the smallpox vaccine?

The smallpox vaccine can inhibit or even stop the transmission of this disease. Although the transmission of smallpox is not as easy as chickenpox, the risk of transmission is very high in people who frequently react and have close contact with sufferers.

Having physical contact with skin sores caused by smallpox can transmit the disease directly. Likewise with exposure to mucosal droplets released when a person with smallpox sneezes and coughs.

The success of the smallpox vaccine is not only to stop viral infection in the body, but also to completely eradicate the presence of the disease.

The smallpox vaccination that was carried out from the end of the 18th century to the end of the 20th century succeeded in stopping the spread and eliminating smallpox in all parts of the world. The last case of smallpox was found in Congo in 1977.

Do you still need to get this vaccine?

After being officially declared extinct by the WHO in 1980, smallpox (smallpox) caused by the variolla virus are no longer found in cases.

The vaccination program for smallpox is no longer a priority, so a vaccine is almost difficult to obtain at this time. The virus is then used for medical research purposes.

However, the awareness of smallpox was increased again after the threat and terror of the use of the variola virus as a biological weapon.

Reporting from The Lancet, in 2002 The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) again increased the supply of smallpox vaccine in anticipation of a recurrence of this disease outbreak.

Chickenpox vaccine side effects

Every medical product always has side effects. Even though they are made from live viruses, the side effects of vaccines are not serious.

Common side effects include fever, redness, and swelling at the area of the skin where you were given the injection. In addition, a small proportion of people also experience a red rash around the injection area.

Meanwhile, according to the FDA, serious side effects that can result from using this vaccine can be the risk of inflammation and swelling of heart cells, as well as diseases such as myocarditis and pericarditis.

Groups of people with certain health conditions may show reactions to vaccine side effects that are quite dangerous.

For that, you need to know who are the people who need to get the smallpox vaccine and who should first avoid vaccination.

Who needs to get this vaccine?

When there is no smallpox outbreak, the groups of people who should get the vaccine are:

Laboratory workers who are involved in research that make use of the variola virus.
Workers need to get a further vaccine (booster) within the next 3 years.

In addition, several other groups that are recommended to take part in the smallpox vaccination program when an outbreak occurs are:

Anyone who has had face-to-face contact with an infected person with smallpox.
Children under 13 years of age who have never had smallpox.
Adults who have never had a vaccine or have never had smallpox.
Even if you have previously had smallpox, you can still get vaccinated to increase immunity against this disease.

Who should not get the smallpox vaccine?

Everyone who is sick is not recommended to get the smallpox vaccine. You have to wait until you recover first, then you can get vaccinated.

The following is a list of people who cannot receive vaccines:

Pregnant women because until now there are no known side effects of this vaccine on pregnant women to their babies.
People who are allergic to gelatin. However, vaccines are available that are composed of gelatin-free vaccine ingredients.
People with immune system disorders.
People who have recently received high doses of steroids.
People who are being treated for cancer with X-rays, drugs, and chemotherapy.
People who have recently had blood transfusions or received blood-related products. The person may only receive the vaccine 5 months after performing a blood transfusion or receiving blood-related products.