The REAL Risks of the Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox is in the news; even the President is going to get his shot. But, what are the real risks? Smallpox vaccine side effects include:
Accidental transfer of vaccinia virus from inoculation site to elsewhere on the body
Common sites: Face, eyelid, nose, mouth, genitalia and rectum
Vaccinia rash
Symptoms: A rash, from a few lesions to all over the body
Severity: Usually mild
Eczema vaccinatum
Symptoms: Spread of vaccinia virus in people with pre-existing eczema or other skin disorders
Severity: Usually mild but can be severe
Progressive vaccination
Symptoms: Vaccine lesion fails to heal and spreads to nearby skin, causing tissue death
Severity: Frequently fatal for immune-suppressed people
Encephalitis, or brain swelling
Symptoms: Brain swelling that causes fever, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, possibly coma.
Severity: 5% to 25% of affected patients die and another 25% have permanent neurological damage
Source: University of Minnesota, Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy

The Bottom Line

Let's not base our actions on the actions of others. While the president may think it is a good idea to vaccinate against smallpox and may be willing to take the risk to protect himself against a disease that disappeared over 30 years ago; what makes sense to you? Should we compromise your immune system or should we act to insure the greatest integrity of your immune system by being as healthy as possible?