New Nasally Smallpox Vaccine Developed

It May Provide a Fast Response to a Bioterrorist Attack

A new study, published recently in the prestigious Clinical and Vaccine Immunology journal, is showing that a new nasally delivered vaccine can be very effective against the smallpox virus. In fact the study states that the new killed-virus vaccine protects up to 77 times the lethal dose of smallpox.

The new nasally delivered smalpox vaccine is highly effective because it contains inactivated vaccinia virus. Current smallpox vaccines contains the live virus. Because current vaccines contain the virus alive they can produce adverse reactions in people getting vaccinated. The new smallpox vaccine is safer than current vaccines because having the killed vaccinia virus may not elicit those unwanted adverse effects.

The study shows how the new vaccine acts. The new killed-virus vaccine produces a immunological response in the nasal mucosa, where the smalpox virus may enter. Having a defense zone in the nasal area (especifically in the nasall mucosa lining) is the best way to protect people agaisnt the smallpox virus. Once the smallpox virus gets into the nose, the nasal mucose (armed with the antibodies generated by the vaccine) recognize it as an intruder and display fully the arsenal of protection needed to stop the smallpox virus to act. This process, known as "mucosal" immunity is highly effective in protecting people against the samllpox virus.

According to James R. Baker Jr., M.D., lead author of the study the new vaccine is safe and fast acting so it may provide people with a fast response in the event of a bioterrorist attack with smallpox or in the event of a natural outbreak with related orthopoxvirus (monkeypox).

Baker also wrote that one of the main findings with this study is that a new validated mean of immunization has been proved. This fast and highly effective immune response is the best defense against the smallpox virus infection. In addition the adverse effects of previously smallpox vaccines are eliminated