About live attenuated vaccinia virus
Live vaccinia virus vaccine
Used for
- Prevention of smallpox in people at high risk of exposure.
- Prevention of mpox in certain people at high risk, under public-health guidance.
Usual adult dose
One dose applied by multiple skin punctures; repeat vaccination may be recommended for ongoing exposure risk.
Usual dose in children
Not routinely used in children; use only under specialist or public-health guidance.
Common side effects
- Sore, itchy vaccination site that develops into a blister and scab.
- Swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue.
- Spread of vaccine virus to other body areas or close contacts.
- Rare severe heart inflammation or life-threatening skin and brain complications.
Important warnings
- Live vaccine; avoid in people with weakened immunity or certain skin conditions such as eczema.
- Can cause serious harm in pregnancy; avoid pregnancy around vaccination as directed by public-health guidance.
- Cover the vaccination site and follow careful hand hygiene until it heals.
- Contraindicated in people with serious allergy to vaccine components or certain heart conditions.
Pregnancy
Generally contraindicated because live vaccinia can harm the fetus; use only when exposure risk justifies it.
Breastfeeding
Vaccinia virus could spread to the infant through contact with the vaccination site; specialist guidance is essential.
Interactions
- Other live vaccines or immune therapies may affect safety or vaccine response.
- Smallpox immune globulin and some antiviral medicines may reduce vaccine effectiveness.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.