In 1988, Health Canada's Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (LCDC) took on the responsibility of issuing smallpox vaccine to civilians, particularly laboratory workers occupationally exposed to smallpox virus, closely related viruses and/or vaccinia virus including vaccinia recombinants(1).
More recently, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended vaccination of personnel who work in a laboratory in which live smallpox virus or other orthopoxviruses (including vaccinia virus, monkeypox virus, and recombinant, non-attenuated vaccinia virus) may be stored, cultured or manipulated(2).
In response to this, Health Canada is coordinating a programme to deliver vaccinia vaccine to laboratory workers with occupational exposure to orthopox viruses. This vaccine has been purchased from Aventis Pasteur and will be administered to lab workers on a voluntary basis following a full medical assessment.
Office of Public Health Security
Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response
Health Canada
100 Colonnade Road, PL6201A
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
613 954 8498