The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7172 p633-638
3 November 2001

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Mass smallpox vaccination not recommended says the WHO

Vaccination of entire populations against smallpox is not recommended, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week following a review sparked by the current threat of bioterrorism (PJ, 27 October, p590).

The review states: "Existing vaccines have proven efficacy but also have a high incidence of adverse side effects. The risk of adverse events is sufficiently high that mass vaccination is not warranted if there is no or little real risk of exposure." Some of the adverse events can be severe and fatal.

The WHO says that people who were vaccinated against smallpox as children (smallpox vaccination has not been given in the United Kingdom since 1971) might still have some level of protection. Although the vaccine is unlikely to be fully effective, it might prevent the worst effects of the disease.

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