JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Smallpox Immunization

Immunized Individual
ObligatoryMust not donate if:
Inoculated during pregnancy.
Additional InformationSmallpox immunization is with live virus. We do not want to pass the virus on to people receiving stem cells.
Contacts
ObligatoryMust not donate if:
Secondarily inoculated during this pregnancy.
DiscretionaryIf no new skin lesions, accept.
Additional InformationClose contacts of vaccinees (household or direct bodily contact) may become secondarily infected from direct skin contact with an infected inoculation site or from virus on clothing, bedding, dressings etc. If infection occurs, a new skin rash, blister or sore appears at the site of contact, which could be anywhere on the body. The rash represents a secondary vaccination site and presents exactly the same potential risk to patients and staff as that of a person who has been intentionally immunized.

Update Information

This advice is a requirement of the EU Tissue & Cells Directive.

This entry was last updated in
TDSG-CB Edition 203, Release 02