Active telephone surveillance to evaluate adverse events among civilian smallpox vaccine recipients

ObjectiveBetter characterize and monitor adverse events following Dryvax® vaccinia vaccination in civilian health care workers and other first responders.DesignTelephone interviews to ascertain adverse events experienced.ResultsEight hundred twenty-five vaccinees, including 44 in the comparison group, were interviewed. At 10 days, 71.4% reported blisters, 35.1% reported bumps at the vaccination site, 48.5% swelling, 47.3% scab, tiredness/lethargy/fatigue (43.6%), headache (34.2%), lymph node swelling/tenderness (28.5%), muscle pain (23.1%), chills (14.4%), joint pain 11.8%, and fever >100 °F (12.5%). The 12.5% reported missing work because of vaccine adverse events. Most adverse events were anticipated and of short duration.