smallpox vaccinia vaccine

Smallpox vaccinia vaccine is a **live viral vaccine** used for active immunization against smallpox and related orthopoxvirus exposure risk. It uses **vaccinia virus**, a poxvirus related to variola virus but less pathogenic in humans, to induce humoral and cellular immune responses that protect against smallpox. The term is **non-specific** because it can refer to multiple distinct products and generations, including replication-competent vaccinia vaccines such as ACAM2000 and older Dryvax, as well as replication-deficient Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccines such as JYNNEOS, which differ in strain, manufacturing platform, administration, and safety profile. These vaccines have primarily been used for biodefense preparedness and vaccination of people at elevated occupational or exposure risk rather than for routine population-wide immunization.

Other names

smallpox vaccinevaccinia vaccinesmallpox vaccinia vaccine