Smallpox Side Effects
Vaccines often have side effects, and the smallpox vaccine is no exception. Fortunately, the side effects are mild and the benefits of the vaccine certainly outweigh them.
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Mild Side Effects
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Most people experience mild side effects after a shot. The side effects include soreness at the site of the vaccination, swollen glands and perhaps a mild fever. Some people stay home from school or work the day after getting the smallpox vaccine.
After the Vaccination
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After the vaccination is received, a pimple will form within three or four days. Then the center will become depressed and pus forms about eight days after the vaccination. The pustule will scab over around day 12, and the scab itself will fall off about three weeks after the vaccination, leaving a small scar.
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Serious Reactions
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A rash is a sign of a more serious reaction to the vaccine. It occurs in about 1,000 out of every million persons vaccinated. Although it usually occurs on the face, if the rash affects the eyes blindness can result.
Life-Threatening Reactions
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A few people---one or two in a million---experience life-threatening reactions that include swelling of the brain and skin infections that involve tissue death. Persons with eczema or atopic dermatitis may also develop skin infections that require medical attention.
Unexpected Side Effects
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When volunteers received the vaccine in 2005, they experienced side effects not previously seen, including abdominal pain, joint pain, back pain and difficulty breathing, according to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
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