March of Dimes Updates: Smallpox and the smallpox vaccine
March of Dimes Updates
Smallpox and the smallpox vaccine
From the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
Both smallpox and the vaccine that prevents it have special implications for women of childbearing age and for their health-care providers. Ob/gyns can best serve their patients and themselves by having up-to-date knowledge of the disease, the vaccine, and guidelines for vaccination, including contraindications.
Pregnant women are at special risk from smallpox, if the disease re-emerges as a terrorist weaponand from adverse effects of the smallpox vaccine. Although a widespread immunization program has begun, there are special considerations for reproductive-aged women. Smallpox vaccine is contraindicated for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and for women who are considering becoming pregnant within a month of vaccination.
Current information about smallpox vaccination guidelines is useful to clinicians and available from several sources that are outlined in this article. Also available online is a 1-page information sheet for your patients (Table 1).
TABLE 1
Sources of information on smallpox vaccination
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Patient Information online at
For more information visit CDC's smallpox homepage at
Professional source for smallpox vaccination issues
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
AAP policy on smallpox immunization of children
March of Dimes
Smallpox vaccination
Or contact the Pregnancy and Newborn Health Education Center.
Phone: Call the Center between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Closed most major holidays. Voicemail accepts messages 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. English toll-free number in the United States and Canada: 1-888-MODIMES (888-663-4637). Internationally: 001-914-997-4765 Spanish toll-free number in the United States and Canada: 1-800-925-1855
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