Health

1st new smallpox vaccine in 76 years

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 24, 2007

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The Food and Drug Administration has licensed a new vaccine for smallpox that will be added to the nation's stockpile of medical supplies for use in the event of a bioterrorist attack. Smallpox is considered a Category A agent, meaning it presents one of the greatest potential threats to the population. The new vaccine, known as ACAM2000, is made using a pox virus called vaccinia, which is related to but different from the virus that causes smallpox.

It is derived from Dryvax, the only other smallpox vaccine licensed by the FDA. Dryvax was approved in 1931 and is in limited supply because it is no longer manufactured.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/09/24/hlbf0924.htm.

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