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Ring Vaccination for Smallpox

Ring vaccination is a disease-control strategy that was used to control smallpox until the last naturally occurring case in 1977. When an infection was diagnosed, all people who were or may have been exposed were identified and vaccinated. Then a second "ring" of people who may have been exposed to the first ring were also identified and vaccinated.

Many disease-control experts support ring vaccination as an alternative to mass vaccination of the American public.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology
Last Revised December 16, 2010

Last Revised: December 16, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Christine Hahn, MD - Epidemiology

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