Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. There is no specific treatment for smallpox disease, and the only prevention is vaccination.

Smallpox outbreaks have occurred from time to time for thousands of years, but the disease is now eradicated after a successful worldwide vaccination program. The last case of smallpox in the United States was in 1949. The last naturally occurring case in the world was in Somalia in 1977. After the disease was eliminated from the world, routine vaccination against smallpox among the general public was stopped because it was no longer necessary for prevention.
On Dec. 13, 2002, the President announced a plan to better protect the American people against the threat of smallpox attack by hostile groups or governments.

Smallpox Basics
Información en español
Smallpox Pre-Event Vaccination Plan
	About the Disease Prevention, causes, how it spreads...
	About the Vaccine How it works, benefits, risks...
	Who Should NOT Get the Vaccine Health conditions that increase a person's risk of side effects
	Reactions after Vaccination (Side Effects) Normal, uncommon, & rare severe reactions...
	Live Virus Vaccines & Vaccinia How live virus vaccines work, what vaccinia is...
	FAQ: Disease & Vaccine Answers to common questions about the disease & vaccine

 

Smallpox Pre-Event Vaccination Plan
In December, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) required states to submit plans for a Pre-Event Smallpox Vaccination at the local level (a post-event vaccination plan was already prepared).

In order to prepare the plan, Ohio was divided into seven regions of 1-2 million; Union County is part of the Central Region that comprises 15 counties:

1. Franklin	9. Fayette
2. Delaware	10. Knox
3. Morrow	11. Logan
4. Licking	12. Wyandot
5. Pickaway	13. Crawford
6. Madison	14. Marion
7. Union	15. Hardin
8. Fairfield

Ohio’s plan calls for three phases of vaccination beginning with vaccination of a core response team and ending with mass vaccination of the general public.

The plan was submitted to the CDC on December 9 for approval. Upon approval and an announcement by the Federal Government for smallpox vaccination to begin, CDC will release smallpox vaccine (vaccinia) and supplies to the Ohio Department of Health for use in the seven Ohio regions for Phase I. The plan could be initiated as early as January.

The Central Ohio Regional Plan

Phase I
Begins the day ODH receives the shipment of smallpox vaccine and continues for approximately 30 days. During Phase I, local public health and hospital workers, identified as Response Teams, will be vaccinated.

In the event of an exposure, the teams will be expected to provide in- room hospital care around the clock for smallpox patient(s) for up to two-weeks. Members of the team may be called upon to work in other locations.

Phase II
Would follow quickly behind Phase I and include additional Public
Health and Hospital Employees as well as all branches of law enforcement and emergency responders.

Phase III
Includes members of the public eligible for the vaccine. No time frame for phase III has been indicated.

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact the Union County Health Department at (937) 642-0801.