The vaccine

How may complications be treated?

Two treatments may help people who have certain serious reactions to the smallpox vaccine. These are Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG) and Cidofivir. VIG consists of human IgG antibody from people vaccinated with smallpox vaccine. (While some conditions may respond to it, VIG is not effective in treating post-vaccinial encephalitis Inflammation of the brain..)

By the end of December 2002, the CDC projected there would be more than 2,700 treatment doses of VIG (enough for predicted reactions with more than 27 million people) and 3,500 doses of Cidofivir (enough for predicted reactions with 15 million people). Additional doses of VIG are being produced, and measures are underway to increase supplies of Cidofivir as well. VIG and Cidofivir are both investigational treatments and have not been fully approved by the FDA for treatment of smallpox vaccine reactions.

Patients should consult as appropriate with allergy-immunology, infectious-disease, dermatology, neurology, or other specialists about these treatments.