Groups at risk for severe reactions from vaccine.(Brief Article)

2002 OCT 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Smallpox vaccines could do more harm than good for people with AIDS or allergic skin diseases, according to research presented in the September 2002 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Smallpox vaccines were discontinued in the United States in 1972, and the disease was considered eradicated by 1980. However, the threat of bioterrorism has brought renewed concern about an outbreak of the disease and consideration by government officials for possible mass vaccination efforts.

Of all vaccines being used routinely today, the live virus smallpox vaccine (called vaccinia) has one of the highest rates of adverse reactions. With this in mind, the possibility of mass public smallpox vaccination must be carefully considered, according to lead review author Renata J.M. Engler, MD, FAAAAI, chief of allergy/immunology at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC.

"The current CDC guidelines in the setting of a smallpox outbreak include a recommendation to immunize anyone with contact regardless of risk factor for an adverse event," Engler said. "Many expert groups are reviewing these questions and considering the fine points of risk-benefit and what other options exist to protect those patients who are at very high risk for serious or even life-threatening smallpox vaccine complications."

Because more people have immune deficiencies or skin diseases now than 30 years ago when the smallpox vaccine was regularly administered, researchers anticipate there could be a greater risk for adverse reactions among these groups.

People expected to be vulnerable to the vaccinia side effects include:

* patients with congenital or acquired immune deficiency diseases such as AIDS