can a toddler get smallpox from an adult who just recieved the sp vaccine if so how high are the risk?

Question

my son recieved the smallpox vaccine because hes being deployed he wants to spend as much time w/ his son before shipping out but was warned by a officer he could be contagious to his son for 21 days. how great is the risk for my grandson

Answer 1

The risk better be 0. Nobody has had smallpox in a while.

The following is an excerpt from a FAQ from the government regarding the vaccine. Note that vaccinia is NOT smallpox. I included a link to the website in the source section so you can read more about this. The advice was correct, but your grandson is only at risk for a different virus, one that is much less dangerous than smallpox.

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Is it possible to get vaccinia, the virus in the vaccine, from someone who has recently been vaccinated?

Yes. Vaccinia is spread by touching a vaccination site before it has healed or by touching bandages or clothing that have become contaminated with live virus from the vaccination site. Vaccinia is not spread through airborne contagion. The vaccinia virus may cause rash, fever, and head and body aches. (updated Dec 9, 2002)

Answer 2

No - the vaccine does not contain smallpox.

"The vaccine is made from a virus called vaccinia which is a “pox”-type virus related to smallpox."

This virus is live and can be passed on both to other people and to other areas of the body.

If he keeps his son away from the area of vaccination and covers it lightly the risk should be minimal.

It is the area of vaccination that is infectious - not his whole body.

Answer 3

smallpox caccine doesn't give you smallpox but cowpox ... a disease similar enough that the body's immune response gives protection against smallpox also. seems to me that it would only be a problem for a child if he was very young ...

Answer 4

smallpox vacine is a DEAD virus. it cant be spread to others.

Answer 5

Just don't have him touch the innoculation site!