Primary smallpox vaccination by jet injections

ABSTRACT

Groups of children received smallpox vaccination by jet injection using 110, 150, 1100, and 11000 dilutions of the reconstituted freeze-dried vaccine. Additional control groups were vaccinated by the standard multiple pressure technique. The 110 and 150 dilutions by jet injection produced clinical take rates of approximately 98 per cent essentially identical to the rates observed in the control groups vaccinated by the standard technique. A fall in the clinical take rate of 90 per cent was observed in those receiving 11000 dilution by jet injection, whereas a rate of 60 per cent was observed in those receiving the 11000 dilution. Jet injection smallpox vaccination is a feasible technique for performing smallpox vaccinations rapidly and with consistency. The results indicated that the 150 dilution of vaccine is the optimal one for use in the gun, offering additional advantages in economy of vaccine (AU)