Studies
in the 1950’s and 1960’s indicated that complications
of vaccination appeared to occur soon after vaccination and
before significant antibody could be detected in the blood.
As a result, C. Henry Kempe and others developed the concept
of providing antibody in the form of gamma globulin.
Empiric evidence appeared to demonstrate that patients healed when
Vaccinia Immune Globulin (VIG) was administered for certain
complications. Vaccination and the occurrence of complications
ceased in the early 1970’s and no definitive studies
were carried out to determine the exact efficacy of VIG.
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VIG
was produced in the 1960’s from plasma obtained from
recently vaccinated donors. It contained a high titer of anti-vaccinia
neutralizing antibody. Because it contained a high proportion
of aggregated protein it was administered solely by the intramuscular
route and could not be used intravenously.
With the reinstitution of vaccination
against smallpox, there is increased interest in the use of
Vaccinia Immune Globulin. Vials of older VIG are stored at
the CDC and are available only under IND protocols. An effort
is underway to produce new lots that will meet the standards
for intravenous immune globulin.
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