Faculty news postings
Update on Smallpox Vaccination (01.08.2003)
As you may know, the military has begun to vaccinate its personnel against smallpox. Since this may include physicians in the military reserves, Dr. Wenzel and I thought it timely to
point out to you our concerns regarding the nosocomial transmission of vaccine virus. The Infection Control Committee and the Medical Executive Committee approved a policy last
month for the VCU Health System to address this issue. A copy of the policy can be viewed on ERIC (see: http://www.eric.vcu.edu/pub/Smallpox_Vaccine_Policy.pdf ).
Importantly, any healthcare worker who receives smallpox vaccine must report this to Dr. Frank Tortorella in Employee Health. Our policy requires that vaccinated individuals be furloughed during the period of infectivity (until the scab separates, typically 3 weeks).
Also, we received word yesterday from the Virginia Department of Health that vaccination of personnel at nearby Ft. Lee will begin on Friday, January 10, 2003. Since Ft. Lee does not have onsite medical coverage after business hours, it is possible that persons with complications of smallpox vaccination may present to our facility. Should this occur it is important to note that the person with an active vaccinia lesion should be placed on contact precautions and healthcare workers who are immunocompromised or have exfoliative skin conditions should not participate in the care of these patients. For severe omplications, vaccinia immune globulin may be indicated.
Please contact Hospital Epidemiology for assistance in obtaining this product from CDC.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.
Michael Edmond, MD, MPH
Hospital Epidemiologist, VCU Health System
