Smallpox Vaccine and What I Went Through.
Mar 15 '03
The Bottom Line I won't recommend one way or the other. This is a choice of the individual and should be respected.
Since 9/11/01 all of us have been hearing about Bio-terrorism. This is something that none of us want to happen.
With the threat of war and the threat of Bio-terrorism, our country has stepped up to the plate in trying to help our nation build an immunity to these diseases of mass destruction.
One of these diseases is smallpox that can be spread through the air. It isn’t a glamorous disease nor will it make you popular amongst your friends. It is a very disfiguring disease.
In the last month the CDC and the U. S. Government has started vaccinating some of the healthcare workers who are regulated by the Department of Health and Hospitals. This has strictly been a voluntary effort. Those that want to take the vaccine are doing so. This is not available to the general public as yet.
This piece is not meant to say yes or no about taking the smallpox vaccine. It is just to let you know what went on with me only. There are links provided throughout so that you can make your own choice.
On February 13, 2003, I took the vaccine and that is what this review is about. What it was like for me to take and links will be included so that you can read about the disease and how the vaccine works and when time comes you can make an informed decision if you want to take it or not.
Several months ago I sat through an eight hour teleconference with the CDC hearing what they have to say about the disease, seeing pictures of what the disease will do and what the side effects of the vaccine are like.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/overview/disease-facts.asp
At work, I talked with the nurses, read more about the disease and the vaccine. I wanted to know everything I could before making a decision about taking it. I wanted to be sure I was a good candidate, how it would affect my family and friends.
When taking the vaccine, it would be a month long commitment and once you were vaccinated there was no turning back.
When it was announced that our department would be giving the vaccine, I made an appointment with my doctor to go over my medical history and to get her thoughts and recommendations on the vaccine and if I should or should not take it. It would be her word in the end that would help me make that decision.
I even called my mother to find out how I had reacted when I took the smallpox vaccine as a child.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/facts.asp
This vaccine can be deadly if you have certain contraindications to it.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/contraindications-public.asp
After gathering the information and my decision made, I was given a packet to read about the vaccine and a questionnaire to fill out about my medical history and history on my family.
On February 13, 2003, I took this questionnaire with me to my appointment with it already filled out. A nurse and a social worker went over it with me. My data was entered into a computer and I was sent back to watch an 11 minute film about the side affects of this vaccine.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/reactions-vacc-public.asp
Then a Nurse Practioner went over the questionnaire again with me and found everything in order. On top of the form I filled out they placed a sticker with the lot number of the vaccine and I was ready to get the vaccine.
The nurse that gave me the vaccine explained that she was going to prick the skin 15 times with a special needle. It isn’t the same kind of needle that all of have come to expect when taking immunizations.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/vaccination-method.asp
When giving the vaccine, the non dominate arm is used. They grab the flesh under the arm and pull it tight and 15 quick pricks of the skin are given. They have to draw some blood.
After the vaccine is given, the site is covered with gauze and adhesive tape. I have had other things hurt much worse than this such as an antibiotic shot or a cortisone shot.
I was then sent to see the discharge nurse that explained site care and to stress once again what could be expected from the shot. The nurse also gave me a sheet of paper telling me when to go back in seven days to check the arm to see if I had a take. The paper shows that you have had the vaccine and I carried it with me just in case I had to go to the hospital as most of the personnel there have not had the vaccination and need to know how to protect themselves.
This is easily spread if you touch the wound and no one wants that on all parts of their body.
The nurse covered the area with an Optsite bandage as I have to work with patients and this can be transmitted to others if you touch the area. I was also given a packet to take home with me with rubber gloves, gauze, tape and additional Optsites.
At home I already had additional gauze, tape, and rubber gloves.
After the immunization, my arm was feeling ok. I had gone back up front and started entering other patient’s data into the computer. An hour after the area started burning but not to the point that I could not stand it. You just knew it was there. It only lasted an hour.
After work that evening, I went home and wasn’t bothered at all by it. The biggest headache came when trying to get a shower. The area had to remain dry at all times.
Now the trick was to get the arm wrapped in plastic wrap so that the wrap wouldn’t fall off.
After thirty minutes of playing with different brands of plastic wrap, I found that Saran Wrap does work the best. I tore off a very long piece, folded it in half and under the arm I secured it with a piece of tape and started wrapping and then secured it again with tape. You can’t have help with this as you are on your own.
After all of this, I realized that there was no way this would make the area completely waterproof, especially when shampooing the hair so I did that in the sink.
I also used the sink to wash my face then that arm. The towel I used for the arm was thrown into a separate laundry basket and the shower began with the arm hanging out of the shower so that no water could slip by. Oh what a treat this was going to be. Then the towel that I dried off was thrown into that basket along with the clothes that I wore.
We were instructed that everything we used could be considered a bio-hazard and no one but you could touch it. After the shower I took the laundry to be washed and it had to be washed in hot water separately from the rest of the family’s laundry.
I slept ok that night as the arm was a little tender but nothing that I couldn’t live with.
The next morning when I woke up the arm and hand were stiff but I worked that out within an hour and was ready to go to work. Bandage still in place and two long sleeved shirts.
By evening I was starting to itch and run a fever. When I got home I had a fever of 100 and was itching really bad. My husband went to the store and purchased Benadryl for me and I did have some Advil at home. You can’t take anything with aspirin in it according to the instruction sheet.
Pictures of reactions to the vaccine; if you sensitive stomach then please pass it by.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccineimages.asp
The fever was gone by noon the next day but the itching was still there and lasted through Tuesday, February 18 and that was gone.
February 19, the site started oozing and I had to go next door to where I work to get the nurse that had had the vaccine to look at it and change the bandage. This is normal. Some oozed for several days, mine for only one.
During this time period my bandage was changed daily as our Medical Director wanted to know how everyone was progressing, how we were feeling and what was going on with us. We are going to be the new data that is sent in.
Once the area scabbed over and not leaking I was able to take the Optsite off and just leave the gauze and tape over the site while wearing to layers of sleeves so that it could dry and scab-off.
During this time period I did have some very minor swelling of the lymph nodes under my left arm. They were tender but not to the point of having to curtail my daily activities. I just knew that they were there if I moved my arm in a certain way. I did get very tired at the end of the day for several days but that quickly passed.
After all of that, there was nothing for me to do but wait until the area was completely healed. No getting sick or any problems with it spreading as I wouldn’t dare touch the area without rubber gloves when changing the bandages. After removing the dressing and gloves these were put into a Ziploc bag and disposed of and my hands were washed with an antibacterial soap and during the day I washed a lot and when I couldn’t I would use one of the alcohol hand sanitizers. The ones that smell so nice from the bath shops work for this so you don’t have to run around smelling like a medicine cabinet.
The average time for the site to scab-off is approximately 21 days but some were sooner and others, like me were later. Day 29 after the vaccination mine was gone.
You are supposed to find the scab and dispose of it properly but some people were not able to.
I had no problems except the ones to be expected.
Caring for the area.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/site-care-pub.asp
In no way am I going to tell someone to get the vaccine or not get it. It is a choice that is left up to the individual. This is something that I chose to do.
You should always research what medical procedure you are going to get such as this one and know what to expect when going in if you should choose to do this. When asked questions by the nurse or doctor, be upfront with them as it is in your best interest. Don’t depend on luck.
Read what you can, ask questions of your doctor, Health Department, if you still aren’t satisfied with their answers, go someplace else.
I have included some links for you to read and hope that everyone will read these.
The link below is a person with the actual disease. If you have a squeamish stomach or can’t stand to look at things like this, then please pass it by.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/smallpoximages.asp
Read everything you can about the vaccine before you decide one way of the other, check with your doctor about your medical conditions and those of your family. This is in your best interest.
As of yesterday my arm is considered healed. I can go back to a normal life with a small scar about the size of a dime.
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