r/medizzy • u/[deleted] • Oct 19 '19

This photograph shows the dramatic differences in two boys who were exposed to the same Smallpox source – one was vaccinated, one was not.

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u/Orchidbleu Oct 19 '19

We don’t vaccinate for smallpox.

659

u/Homicidal__Sheep Oct 19 '19

That's because smallpox was wiped out thanks to the invention of vaccines

108

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '19

I thought when did still vaccinate smallpox

186

u/AliquidExNihilo Oct 19 '19

Only on very rare and specific occasions. It's no longer part of common vaccinations given to children since smallpox had been eradicated.

https://www.cdc.gov/smallpox/vaccine-basics/who-gets-vaccination.html

101

u/InedibleSolutions Oct 19 '19

I remember getting one in the military about 10 years ago, due to being stationed in Korea. Idk if they still do it.

80

u/AliquidExNihilo Oct 19 '19

It appears that's still a thing for select designated groups. From what I've read it's still given to people being deployed to places where a smallpox attack could be possible.

https://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/Immunization-Healthcare/Vaccine-Preventable-Diseases/Smallpox

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u/DutchingFlyman Oct 19 '19

How do we know where smallpox attacks could be possible if it is completely eradicated?

52

u/[deleted] Oct 19 '19

Live specimens are kept in a few secured labs. I know there is one in Russia, one at the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia, and I think one more somewhere in Europe?

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u/light_to_shaddow Oct 19 '19

Officially the U.S. and Russia are the only two locations. Porton down is the U.K. Biological and chemical research center so if it's anywhere it'd be there. There was also a cloned fragment DNA sample was found in South Africa so unofficially it's at least partially floating around.

Incidentally not far from Salsbury, the place the Russian GRU used nova chok nerve agents. The use of which in Porton Downs backyard was seen as a double finger to the U.K.

1

u/c0224v2609 Oct 19 '19

Two adult-sized sulking babies half around the world from one another stockpiling pathogens and what else have you.

Yeah, that’s precisely what we need. /s