Type of medicine: vaccine
Generic and brand names: smallpox (vaccinia) vaccine, injection; ACAM2000
This medicine is given by injection (a shot) to protect people against smallpox disease. It is for use in people who have a high chance of getting the disease. This injection contains live vaccinia virus.
Before taking this medicine, tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your healthcare provider if you have close contact with:
Tell the healthcare provider if you currently have an infection of any kind. Also tell your provider if you smoke or have a family history of heart problems.
Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. Use an effective birth control method one month before and after the vaccination. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.
Read the Medication Guide that is given to you by your healthcare provider when you receive this vaccine.
This medicine must be given by a healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will make 15 pokes in the skin of your upper arm with a needle containing the virus. The pokes are not deep, but will cause a drop of blood to form. This is called the vaccination site.
It is important to care for the vaccination site properly so that the virus doesn't spread. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions exactly. You may need to change the bandage every 1 to 3 days. You can infect another part of your body or other people until the scab falls off. To prevent this:
This vaccine may cause serious or life-threatening heart problems, including myocarditis and pericarditis (swelling of the heart tissues). This can happen within 3 to 4 weeks after getting the vaccine. Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, or breathing problems. These may be signs of a heart problem.
This vaccine may cause other serious side effects, such as swelling of the brain or spinal cord, severe vaccination site infection, spreading of the vaccine virus to other parts of your body or to another person, severe allergic reaction, and accidental eye infection (which may cause vision problems or blindness). Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Infants less than 12 months of age should not receive this vaccine. Adults over the age of 65 are at a higher risk of side effects and should not receive this vaccine in non-emergency situations. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Because the vaccine has a live virus, it can spread if you touch the vaccination site and then touch other parts of your body or other people. The virus can spread until the vaccination scab falls off (2 to 4 weeks after vaccination). If the virus is spread to a person who should not get the vaccine, the side effects can be very serious and life-threatening.
For 4 weeks after the vaccination AND until the vaccination site has healed, do NOT:
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work in the month after your vaccination, tell the healthcare provider or dentist that you have received this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing).
Serious (report this to your healthcare provider right away): Chest pain, fast or irregular heartbeat, severe shortness of breath, confusion, seizures, stiff neck, loss of coordination or balance, severe vomiting, severe weakness, blisters, severe rash, fever that lasts more than 1 day, sore throat, eye infection or vision problems, severe sensitivity to light, vaccination site that is not healing, rash or sore on other parts of your body.
Other: Soreness, redness, or mild swelling where the shot was given, tiredness, muscle pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting.
When you receive this medicine while you are taking other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Tell the healthcare provider if you are taking:
Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.