WHO stresses on vaccine preparedness for smallpox

The World Health Organisation has stressed on better vaccine preparedness for smallpox in view of the current international situation and the apparent threat of bioterrorism.

It has suggested increased attention to the quality of stocks of the smallpox vaccine and preparedness for vaccine production by countries in the event of an outbreak of the disease.

WHO advisory is the result of a review of the guidelines on smallpox vaccination in view of the possibility of this virus being used as a bioweapon.

The guidelines remain the same in so far as they go against vaccination of entire population, saying “the risk of adverse events is sufficiently high” during vaccination.

Thus, “... mass vaccination is not warranted if there is no or little risk of exposure,” the review stated. As people who have been vaccinated in the past are unlikely to develop the most serious effects of smallpox, only those with suspected exposure to the disease or a related virus should be vaccinated, WHO said.

Meanwhile, government has decided to carry out a “drill” on manufacturing smallpox vaccine, following WHO advisory, to ensure full preparedness in any eventuality.

“The drill is aimed at ensuring that the country has the capacity to prepare a vaccine at a short notice,” health minister Dr C P Thakur said. WHO has advised such a drill once in ten years so that countries remain prepared to handle this disease, which has been declared as eradicated. (PTI)