Critical evaluation of smallpox vaccination for laboratory workers
- University of Pennsylvania, Division of Infectious Diseases, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Correspondence to: Dr S Isaacs, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Division of Infectious Diseases, 502 Johnson Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6073, USA; isaacs{at}mail.med.upenn.edu
An alternative view
As witnessed by the eradication of naturally occurring smallpox and near eradication of polio, vaccination against infectious diseases has been a true success story of medical science. The use of safe and efficacious vaccines to control highly contagious and morbid diseases extends to the occupational setting as well. When safe and effective vaccines are available, using them in an occupational setting to protect workers from diseases to which they may be exposed is obvious. This is clearly the case for protection of healthcare workers against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B. Animal handlers should also be vaccinated against rabies. These vaccines all target viral infections that are easily transmitted and/or result in serious illnesses. Similarly, if a laboratory worker handles a potential pathogen for which a safe and effective vaccine exists, in most cases vaccination is warranted.
Recently, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated their recommendations for the use of vaccinia vaccine.1 The revised ACIP recommendations address the non-emergency use of vaccinia virus vaccine in laboratory, animal care, and healthcare workers with potential occupational exposure to vaccinia virus. The ACIP continues to strongly recommend the vaccination of laboratory workers and animal handlers who may come in contact with non-attenuated strains of vaccinia virus, or with other orthopoxviruses that can infect humans, such as monkeypox. Of note, there are a few major changes and an addition to the prior …
