Smallpox vaccine adverse events among civilians--United States, February 18-24, 2003.

During the civilian smallpox vaccination program, CDC and state health departments are conducting surveillance for vaccine-associated adverse events. In the first stage of the program, active surveillance is being conducted for potentially life-threatening, moderate-to-severe, and other serious adverse events and for vaccinia transmission to contacts of vaccinees (Table). Nonserious events are reported through passive surveillance and are expected to be underreported. This report summarizes smallpox vaccine adverse events reported among civilians vaccinated as of February 21, 2003, and received by CDC from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) as of February 24.