Smallpox vaccine stability after maintenance at temperatures not recommended for shipping.

Two distinct smallpox vaccine formulations were exposed to temperatures beyond the ranges specified by the manufacturers for vaccine maintenance and shipping. Under the conditions investigated, titers of both Dryvax smallpox vaccine and Aventis Pasteur smallpox vaccine remained at or above the titers recommended for successful vaccination. From these data it can be inferred that vaccine efficacy would not be expected to be adversely affected by unintended fluctuations of temperature, within the ranges studied, for a 4-day period.