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