i would like to know if anyone can tell me if i might be immune to smallpox. I had the shot when i was a kid twice but it didn't leave a scare either time.what do you all think.

-- gail akins (gakins@simplynet.net), September 24, 2002

Answers

Gail, I've heard that if it didn't 'bubble' then you carry a natural immunity, but I don't have any hard medical facts regarding immunity. I had my vaccination in 1963 at age 11 and had a severe reaction. At the time the doctors didn't know I had/have Crohns disease which is one of the immune diseases. Mine did get just a small scar after 13 days but I had swelling of my whole arm including my had which turned dark purplish red, high fever,total body rash and other reactive symptoms. Yesterday I read that the vaccination is still showing immunity for 35 yrs after, but I don't know if yours didn't scar up. Try doing a search for smallpox immunity, it might bring up some sites that would give more info.

-- Kathy (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), September 24, 2002.

gail,, its going to depend on WHEN you where a kid.. The alter vaccines didint leave scars,, then they went to sugar pills. The shots I received in the army, didnt scar up. Ive read that if you ANY vaccinations,, that it CAN last for your life, or as short as 10 years. ANything under 10 years, its recomeended that you get re- vaccinated. (good luck finding some) But any is better that never having got it.

BTW, just because you were vaccinated, doesnt mean you are immune. What it does do, is allow your body to have the antibodies already there, in case you are infected. But with time, the efectiveness of the vaccine decreases. Becasue other deisses come into play, and the antibodies, since not used, are discarded.

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), September 24, 2002.

Current thought seems to be that you do not get life long immunity, but just how long you will have an effective immnuity is still undecided.

I'm sure that a blood test can be done to determine the status of your smallpox immunity, but it will not be cheap.

-- BC (desertdewller@yahoo.com), September 24, 2002.

thanks guys for your information. I had it back in the 50,s but will do a check on immunity. thanks gail

-- gail akins (gakins@simplynet.net), September 25, 2002.

Some time ago, I was a briefing leader for The Hunger Project. According to what I think I know ( I know I don't know ) the last case of smallpox was in Somalia in 1977. Some governments have preserved viable strains "in case". Oh, the eradication of smallpox was an example of what we, as a species, could do, if we wanted to. I am willing to discuss this topic off-list. Marty Stoetzle, martys@iland.net

-- Zen Clown (martys@iland.net), September 28, 2002.