This is an automatically translated article.
Acam2000 is a newly introduced vaccine for the prevention of smallpox in certain people at high risk of contracting the disease. Smallpox was once eradicated with the advent of vaccines. However, because of the potential risk of the disease, some people still receive this vaccine.
1. What are the uses of Acam200?
Acam2000® is a vaccine used to prevent smallpox. This live attenuated vaccine has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ACAM2000, a new vaccine to protect against smallpox. Smallpox is a highly contagious viral disease that has the potential to seriously affect people who get it.
Previously, a worldwide vaccination program eradicated smallpox from the population. Stocks of known viruses are kept only in two approved laboratories in the United States and Russia. That is to say, it also represents one of the greatest potential threats to public health, if the disease-causing virus is to be considered a biological weapon.
Smallpox is caused by the variola virus, a virus that appeared thousands of years ago. It is spread by close contact with infected people or objects at risk of the virus, such as bedding or clothing. There is no cure for smallpox and the only prevention is vaccination.
Symptoms of smallpox usually begin with a high fever, headache and body aches. The rash then spreads and progresses to raised nodules and pus-filled blisters, which then rupture, crust over and peel off after about three weeks, leaving pitted scars. According to the CDC, the previous death rate from the disease was about 30%.
The Acam2000 vaccine is intended to immunize people at high risk of exposure to the virus that causes smallpox. This vaccine contains a live attenuated vaccine virus and works by causing a mild infection, stimulating an immune response that provides effective protection against smallpox without actually causing the disease. But because ACAM2000 contains live virus, care must be taken to prevent the virus from spreading from the vaccination site to other parts of the body and to other individuals.
2. Indications and contraindications for taking Acam2000
Indications: This vaccine is indicated for individuals at high risk of exposure to the smallpox virus. In particular, those at risk face the use of viruses as a biological weapon.
Contraindications: Vaccination is contraindicated when you have some problems with your immune system. People with health problems may be at higher risk for serious side effects from vaccinations. Some contraindications to vaccination include:
Leukemia, lymphoma Have had a bone marrow or organ transplant Have any metastatic cancer HIV infection, AIDS Cellular immunodeficiency Cellular or humoral immunity Are being treated with radiation therapy Are being treated with steroids, prednisone, or other cancer medicines.
3. How to use Acam2000
Taking this or any other medicine can cause some risks. Therefore, proper use is the most effective measure that can help reduce risks.
How to vaccinate:
When getting the Acam2000 smallpox vaccine, the person giving the vaccination will poke 15 times into the skin on your arm with a needle containing Acam2000. The punctures are not deep but can cause bleeding, known as the injection site. If the vaccination is successful, a red and itchy bump will form at the injection site after 2 to 5 days. Over the next few days, the bump becomes a blister and fills with pus. During the second week, the blister will dry out and form a scab. The scab falls off after 2 to 4 weeks and leaves a scar. People who get vaccinated for the first time may have more reactions than those who get a booster shot. Some people, such as laboratory workers who work with the smallpox virus, are at higher risk of exposure to smallpox who may need a booster shot every 3 years to maintain protection. protect the body from smallpox. The importance of the Acam2000 vaccination process is post-injection care. Taking care of the vaccination site properly keeps the virus from spreading to other parts of the body or possibly to others. You run the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your body or to others from the time the injection is given until the scabs fall off. Note the post-injection care as follows:
You need to bandage the injection site and wear a shirt that covers the injection area. When performing dressing changes or taking care of the injection site, wear gloves. Should be replaced at least every 3 days. After changing dressings, you should dispose of used gloves and dressings in a sealed plastic bag. An antiseptic solution can be used to kill the virus. Frequently wash your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water for at least 30 seconds. Be sure to wash your hands every time you change your dressing or you touch the vaccination site. Do not use creams or ointments or any medications on the vaccination site, as these will slow healing and may increase the risk of spreading the virus. You may experience itching, but be careful not to scratch or pick at the vaccination site. You can shower but do not touch or scrub the vaccination site. It is best to cover the vaccination site with a waterproof bandage when bathing. If the injection site is wet, dry the injection site with toilet paper and rinse, discard the toilet paper and use gloves as directed above. Note: Do not use cloth towels because they can spread the virus. If you exercise that causes sweat to come out, be sure to use a waterproof bandage on the vaccination site when exercising. Wash clothes, towels, sheets, or other items that may have come in contact with the vaccination site separately from other items. Hot water with detergent and bleach should be used to help kill the virus. When the scabs come off, throw them in a sealed plastic bag with a bit of disinfectant and wash your hands afterwards.
4. Possible side effects when using Acam2000
Possible side effects of Acam2000 include:
A serious side effect of the vaccine is that it can cause myocarditis and pericarditis. This can happen within 3 to 4 weeks of getting the vaccine. Get medical help if you have any suspicious signs of this condition including: chest pain, feeling of pressure in your chest, fast or irregular heartbeat, breathing problems such as rapid breathing, shortness of breath...Most people with myocarditis or pericarditis seem to go into remission after a few weeks. But heart problems can last longer in some people and can lead to death, although very rarely. Other serious side effects that may also occur include: swelling of the brain or spinal cord; injection site infection; spread the virus in the vaccine to other parts of your body or to other people; severe allergic reactions after vaccination; Eye infections such as keratitis cause painful watery and blurred vision, corneal scarring and blindness. When experiencing this side effect, you should notify your doctor or go to medical facilities. Common side effects include feeling itchy at the injection site, swollen lymph nodes, arm pain, fever, headache, body aches, mild rash, fatigue. In addition, a very dangerous thing is that if you do not take care and take precautions, the virus in the injection site will spread to people around and other parts of the body.
5. Special notes when using Acam2000
Since this is a live virus vaccine, although it has been reduced dynamics, it can spread to other parts of your body or to others if you touch the vaccination site and then touching other parts of your body or on someone else's body. If the virus spreads to an unvaccinated person, it can cause a lot of serious and life-threatening things. So, to prevent this you need to:
Take proper care of the injection site and take precautions against infection. Tell your doctor if you live or work with someone who has skin problems (such as eczema, dermatitis, burns, psoriasis, severe acne), has impetigo, chickenpox or shingles; live or have frequent close contact with a baby, who is pregnant or breastfeeding; live or have close contact with someone who is immunocompromised or has heart disease. Because these people are at high risk of getting smallpox from your vaccination site. Therefore, it is necessary to completely avoid contact, do not sleep in the same bed or share clothes with people at high risk of infection and these people are also at high risk of serious illness if infected. The supplier of Acam2000 does not know if the virus in the vaccine can infect cats, dogs, or other pets in the home, or if pets can pass the virus on to other members of the household. Therefore, it is best to try to prevent the virus from the vaccine from reaching the pet. People with the following problems should tell their doctor before injecting Acam2000:
Skin problems such as skin burns, atopic dermatitis, impetigo, contact dermatitis, chickenpox, shingles, shingles psoriasis or uncontrolled acne; have had serious heart problems including angina, artery disease, old heart attacks, congestive heart failure, other heart problems; smoke or have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of heart problems; pregnant and lactating women; children under 1 year old; are using eye drops or ointments that contain steroid ingredients; People who have had problems following a previous dose or have a history of being allergic to any part of Acam2000. When taking the medicine, there are a few things that should be avoided for 4 weeks after vaccination and until the injection site has healed: Do not become pregnant during this time because the smallpox vaccine can cause infection in the unborn baby if the mother is given the vaccine. vaccination during pregnancy and this often leads to stillbirth; should not take care of a nursing infant or child; avoid swimming; avoid donating blood; Tuberculosis (TB) test because the smallpox vaccine can cause an inaccurate TB test result; During this time, avoid contact with people who are unvaccinated and at high risk of infection. Acam2000 may also affect certain medications you take. Therefore, it is important to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking or plan to take. In summary, Acam2000 is a newly licensed vaccine for use against smallpox and it is similar in efficacy to the previously administered vaccine. However, it also has a high risk of causing side effects for yourself and those around you. Therefore, you need to follow the post-injection care as directed by the medical staff.
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Reference source: drugs.com
