On this page: • About the National Smallpox Preparedness Program • Emergency Response Team Vaccination Information • Smallpox Preparation & Planning

About the National Smallpox Preparedness Program

In December 2002, President Bush initiated a national preparedness program to protect Americans against smallpox as a biological weapon. Communities have been asked to form smallpox preparedness teams that are ready to respond to a smallpox attack on our country. If you have been asked to be a member of a smallpox response team, you must now decide whether to participate in this effort and receive the vaccination in order to protect others. This decision must be weighed carefully.

As you consider your participation on a smallpox preparedness team, please read the materials provided on this page.

Emergency Response Team Vaccination Information

NOTE: A copy of the Smallpox Pre-Vaccination Information Packet is provided to everyone selected for response teams. Anyone considering the vaccine should consult the resources in this packet.

What You Need to Know About the Smallpox Vaccine

Learn about smallpox disease and about the benefits and risks of the smallpox vaccine.

• Smallpox Vaccine: What You Need to Know

Deciding If You Should Get the Smallpox Vaccine

The following resources can assist you with determining if you should not receive the smallpox vaccine due to certain medical conditions.

• Video: Decision Point for the Smallpox Vaccine Candidate
• Pre-Event Screening Worksheet for Smallpox Vaccine PDF (145 KB/7 pages)

For more information about specific conditions, see the following:

• Heart Problems
• Skin Conditions
• Weakened Immune System
• Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

What People Close to You Need to Know

If you are considering the vaccination, there are things that your close, physical contacts (your spouse, partner or other member of your household) should know. This fact sheet, designed for your close contacts, describes health conditions that put people at high risk and provides information about the steps that close contacts can take to protect themselves.

• Someone You Are Close to May Get the Smallpox Vaccine: What You Should Know and Do

What Happens After Vaccination

• What to Do After You’ve Gotten the Smallpox Vaccine
• Side Effects of Vaccination
• Smallpox Vaccine and Heart Problems: Information for People Who Have Recently Received the Smallpox Vaccine
• Drugs used to treat reactions to the smallpox vaccine:
  • Investigational Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG)
  • Investigational Vistide® (Cidofovir)

Questions and Answers for Prospective Vaccinees

Answers to questions about smallpox disease and smallpox vaccine:

• FAQ About Smallpox
• FAQ About Smallpox Vaccine

More Vaccination Information

Many other resources are available on the CDC website, including the following:

• Webcast: Smallpox Preparedness: Considerations for Response Team Volunteers
• Fact Sheet: Smallpox Vaccination: An Important Decision
• Smallpox Vaccination Information & Resources
• What Everyone Should Know About Smallpox Disease
• What Everyone Should Know About Smallpox Vaccine

Smallpox Preparation and Planning

More resources for preparing for a smallpox emergency can be found on the Smallpox Preparation and Planning page.