The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine vaccination for laboratory personnel who directly handle 1) cultures or 2) animals contaminated or infected with replication-competent vaccinia virus, recombinant vaccinia viruses derived from replication-competent vaccinia strains, or other orthopoxviruses that infect humans (e.g., mpox, cowpox, and variola).
University of Iowa staff working with vaccinia are offered the vaccine, at no cost to the employee, and must sign a form acknowledging that they understand the risk of acquiring infection from occupational exposure and the risks from either receiving or declining the vaccine. Staff that originally decline vaccination can opt to accept vaccination at any point.
The “Vaccinia Immunization Packet” linked below contains the form that should be completed by laboratory personnel.
Questions about the vaccine can be directed to University Employee Health Clinic Staff (356-3631).
Contact Information and Areas of expertise can be found on the Contact Us page.
Documents
External Links
- Use of JYNNEOS (Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Nonreplicating) for Preexposure Vaccination of Persons at Risk for Occupational Exposure to Orthopoxviruses: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2022
- Use of Vaccinia Virus Smallpox Vaccine in Laboratory and Health Care Personnel at Risk for Occupational Exposure to Orthopoxviruses — Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2015