Smallpox

Your Complete Guide to the Smallpox Vaccine: Benefits, Side Effects, and Key Information

What is the Smallpox Vaccine?

Smallpox is a highly contagious and deadly disease caused by the variola virus, characterized by fever, body aches, and a distinctive rash. Through a global vaccination campaign, smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1980 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The smallpox vaccine was instrumental in this achievement, and it remains one of the most significant successes in the history of vaccination. While smallpox no longer circulates, its vaccine continues to be used in select cases for research purposes and in the event of a bioterrorism threat.