Contents:
- Medical Video: Chapter 2, Part C: Interpreting Smallpox Vaccination Results
- What is the smallpox vaccine?
- Why do you need to get the smallpox vaccine?
- Who needs to get the smallpox vaccine?
- How many doses of smallpox vaccine are needed?
- Are there side effects from the smallpox vaccine?
- Are there people who can't get the smallpox vaccine?
Medical Video: Chapter 2, Part C: Interpreting Smallpox Vaccination Results
The original vaccine is one of the medical components made from active but weakened viruses. This vaccine serves to make your body's immune system become immune to the disease. There are so many types of vaccines currently circulating in the community, including smallpox vaccine.
What is the smallpox vaccine?
Smallpox vaccine is a liquid that can protect almost everyone who receives this vaccine from being attacked by smallpox. This vaccine is sometimes also referred to as the varicella vaccine, because smallpox is caused by a virus named varicella-zoster virus. As mentioned earlier, vaccines are made from weakened viruses. Well, that means, the smallpox vaccine is made from a weakened smallpox virus.
The weakened smallpox virus that enters the human body through this vaccine does not cause you to even develop smallpox, but this virus will make your immune system build defenses to attack the smallpox virus. As a result, if there is a smallpox virus attacking you in the future, your immune system can attack the virus so you are not exposed to smallpox.
About 90% of people who get the smallpox vaccine are not exposed to smallpox. However, it is still possible if someone who has received a smallpox vaccine is still exposed to smallpox in his later life. However, if that happens, the smallpox in that person must be lighter and heal faster.
Why do you need to get the smallpox vaccine?
In general, the smallpox virus attacks not too badly. Usually a person has smallpox for about 5 to 10 days. However, in acute cases, smallpox can be life threatening. The risk of acute smallpox that can threaten life usually occurs in infants, adults, and people who have a weak immune system. However, it cannot be predicted who will be attacked by acute smallpox. This can happen to anyone.
In addition, smallpox is a very contagious disease. Smallpox can spread through the air through sneezing and coughing. Sometimes, smallpox can also be transmitted from the fluid from the smallpox wound itself. Therefore, people affected by smallpox must be isolated so that they do not spread to others until they have recovered.
If you get chickenpox, you will get around 200 to 500 itchy smallpox wounds all over your body. You may also experience headaches, sneezing and fussing.
Who needs to get the smallpox vaccine?
Smallpox vaccine is recommended for all children under the age of 13 who have not had chickenpox. Smallpox vaccine is also recommended for adults who have never received a smallpox vaccine or have never been exposed to smallpox. If you have had chickenpox, you don't need to get the smallpox vaccine anymore.
Since 2005, smallpox vaccines are usually combined with vaccines for other diseases. This vaccine is called MMRV, a vaccine that can help you attack measles, mumps, respiratory allergies, and smallpox.
How many doses of smallpox vaccine are needed?
You will be given 2 doses of smallpox vaccine separately. For children, the first dose is given when the child is 12-18 months old. While the second dose will be given when the child is 4-6 years old. For adults, the second dose is given within four to eight weeks after the first dose is given.
Are there side effects from the smallpox vaccine?
Every medical product always has side effects. However, usually the side effects of smallpox vaccine are not heavy. Side effects that often appear are usually pain, reddened skin, and swelling in the area of the skin where you are injected. There are a small number of people who also experience rashes on the skin around where the patient gets an injection.
Are there people who can't 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 the smallpox vaccine. In addition, every person who develops allergies after getting the first dose is not recommended to get the second dose of the smallpox vaccine. Here is a list of people who cannot receive the smallpox vaccine:
- Pregnant mother. Because until now there are no known side effects from smallpox vaccine in pregnant women to the babies they contain.
- People who are allergic to gelatin. However, a gelatin free chickenpox vaccine is available.
- People who have immune system disorders
- People who have just received steroids in high doses
- People who are on cancer treatment with X-rays, drugs, and chemotherapy
- People who have just had blood transfusions or received products related to blood. The person may only receive the smallpox vaccine 5 months after taking blood transfusion or receiving products related to blood.
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