Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox is all but eradicated in the Western world. That's due to the early adoption of the smallpox vaccine, which was discovered in the late 1700s. The smallpox vaccine contained the cowpox virus, a similar but less virulent form of the disease. Today, people do not routinely receive the smallpox vaccine.

After the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C., the United States government stockpiled enough smallpox vaccine to inoculate every U.S. citizen in the case of a smallpox biological attack. Soldiers and military contractors often are given the smallpox vaccine as well as a precaution.

What can you expect if you do receive the smallpox vaccine? According to the CDC, the vaccination is given via a two-pronged needle, not the standard hypodermic. The administrator pricks the skin several times, and:

If the vaccination is successful, a red and itchy bump develops at the vaccine site in three or four days. In the first week, the bump becomes a large blister, fills with pus, and begins to drain. During the second week, the blister begins to dry up and a scab forms. The scab falls off in the third week, leaving a small scar. People who are being vaccinated for the first time have a stronger reaction than those who are being revaccinated.

The smallpox vaccine is not to be taken lightly. The vaccine site can actually spread the disease throughout the body or to other people. Children under 12 cannot receive the vaccine, and the CDC cautions against giving the smallpox vaccine to children under 18 unless there is an emergency. Risk factors for vaccination include high blood pressure, diabetes, smokers, people with reduced immunity, and those with a heart condition. .001% of people have a serious reaction to the vaccine.

Typhoid Vaccine

If you are traveling to South-East or South-Central Asia, then it is recommended that you receive the Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid Fever is passed through food and water contaminated by feces of a person who is infected with the disease. Proper food handling has reduced the incidences of the infection, but certain countries have lax standards, which have facilitated the spread of Typhoid. Thus, you should check to see if a Typhoid vaccine is recommended for the region to which you are traveling.

Typhoid is a disease marked by high fever, sweating, diarrhea, and sometimes a rash. Left untreated, the disease can be fatal. According to the CDC, travelers should receive the immunization 2 weeks prior to traveling for it to be effective. The Typhoid vaccine is effective for preventing Typhoid fever, but not 100% so; thus, travelers are highly encouraged to carefully monitor their eating and drinking.

The Typhoid vaccine is administered either by injection or orally. It is safe but can cause generally mild reactions, including fever, headache, and redness at the injection site. Rarely, gastrointestinal difficulties, including vomiting, can occur. People with weakened immune systems or who have had a previous reaction the Typhoid vaccine should not receive the vaccine.

Rabies Vaccine

The rabies vaccine is not given to people during the normal vaccination schedule. The vaccine is given to two groups of people: those who have been exposed to rabies through a wound and those who are at risk for rabies, include vets, lab workers, and spelunkers (due to their proximity to bats). People who are visiting countries with high numbers of rabid dogs should also think about receiving the rabies vaccine.

The rabies vaccine consists of 3 shots within 3 weeks. For those exposed to rabies, 4 shots are given within 2 weeks with an extra shot known as the Rabies Immune Globulin (2 shots are given to people exposed to the rabies virus but have been previously vaccinated). A new rabies shot might require only one shot.

Severe reactions to the rabies vaccine are not common. However, redness and irritation might occur, and some people might experience joint pain after receiving the shot. Seek medical attention if you experience a fever or shortness of breath.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis B is a serious virus that can lead to chronic liver disease or liver cancer. It is passed through the sharing of bodily fluids. The Hepatitis B vaccine protects against the transmission of the virus.

Available since 1982, the Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for infants (due to the fact that the earlier the disease is transmitted, the greater the chance it will be chronic) and is required by most school districts in order for a child to be admitted to school. The Hepatitis B vaccine usually consists of three doses and is safe, with some people reporting mild reactions, such as redness at the injection point. Serious reactions are rare.

Those who have had previous severe reaction to a previous dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine or are allergic to yeast should not receive the vaccine. Those who are at risk for contacting the virus, such as health care workers, sexually active people with multiple partners, prison inmates, and users of injectable drugs, should consider receiving the immunization.