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Table 1 Comparison of smallpox vaccination adverse effects studies meeting selection criteria for this systematic review

From: Risks of serious complications and death from smallpox vaccination: A systematic review of the United States experience, 1963–1968

Study and year published [Ref]

Source

Number of primary and re-vaccinations

Screening occurred

Complications

Numerator source

Denominator source

     

Complication

Death

 

Neff 1967a [19]

United States, 1963

6,239,000

7,775,000

NR

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Red Cross VIG distribution system, CDC, National Survey of pediatrician and general practitioners

Deaths certificates

Estimated by National Bureau of Census Immunization Survey

Neff 1967b [22]

United States, 1963 (North Carolina, Rhode Island, Washington, Wyoming)

298,000

370,000

NR

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Retrospective physician survey, Local health officers, Records at major medical centers

Death certificates

Estimated by National Bureau of Census Immunization Survey

Lane 1969 [24]

United States, 1968

5,594,000

8,574,000

NR

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Red Cross VIG distribution system, Red Cross consultants, State & Territorial Epidemiologists, Burroughs-Wellcome Co., Vaccine manufacturers, NCDC Encephalitic Surveillance Unit, NCDC Viral Exanthems Unit

Death certificates

Estimated by National Bureau of Census Immunization Survey

Lane 1970 [25]

United States, 1968 (Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Washington, West Virginia)

596,000

998,000

NR

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Prospective physician survey, Public health nurse survey (2 states)

NR

Estimated by National Bureau of Census Immunization Survey

Mellin 1970 [23]

United States, 1968 (Maryland)

109,000

166,000

NR

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Medical and chirurgical faculty, County health officers, Chief pediatricians in general hospitals, Red Cross VIG distribution system, General hospitals, Public health nurses

NR

Estimated by National Bureau of Census Immunization Survey

Ratner 1970 [21]

Puerto Rico, 1967

369,546

465,926

Yesa

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Physician survey, Immunization nurses, University hospital dermatologists, Red Cross VIG distribution system

NR

National smallpox vaccination campaign

Neff 1972 [20]

United States, 1968 (Baltimore pediatric clinic)

549

433

NR

PVE, VN, EV, GV, AI

Pediatric clinic chart review

NR

Clinic chart review

  1. NR = Not reported, PVE = post-vaccinial encephalitis, VN = vaccinia necrosum, EV = eczema vaccinatum, GV = generalized vaccinia, AI = accidental infection (inadvertant autoinoculation), VIG = Vaccinia immune globulin, NCDC = National Communicable Disease Center. aVaccinations withheld from persons aged less than 1 year or greater than 60 years, and persons with acute illness, blood dyscrasia, malignancy, pregnancy, eczema or infectious skin disease, eczema in household contacts, steroid therapy, radiation therapy; cerebral damage, or seizure disorder. bWyeth Dryvax product licensed and is use during this period [11]