Why do we need to test NEW smallpox vaccines? I was under the impression that the old variety works just fine. Is it one of those old model year things?
My RN license has expired but I hope someone can tell me when the 10 year duration of protection following smallpox vaccination kicked in. My Mom was vaccinated when she was 5, she is now 86. I was vaccinated when I was 5, am now almost 60. Neither of us, nor several million other Americans, have had boosters every 10 years, unless traveling out of the country some years back. In the years that passed Small Pox ceased to BE.
Question!!! At what point did the immunity cease to exist for us? Were folks in our port cities given boosters that we didn't know about? Were the medical experts liars when they said the protection was for life, "OR" is there a new variety of this old virus that we need to consider?