Recommendations for the production and quality control of smallpox vaccine, revised 2003, Annex 1, TRS No 926

Overview

Full version of  WHO Technical Report Series No. 926

The Recommendations (formerly Requirements) for Production and Control of Smallpox Vaccines were last revised in 1965 (1). Since that time an intensified global eradication programme implemented from 1967 to 1980, and led by WHO, has resulted in the global eradication of smallpox (2). This was achieved by the globally coordinated use in national immunization programmes of effective vaccines that met the quality specifications in the 1965 Requirements. The last naturally occurring case of smallpox was reported in 1977. In addition to the availability of effective vaccines, an efficient infrastructure was established worldwide embracing the production, supply and administration of smallpox vaccine. Good surveillance, diagnosis of disease, training and public health information were additional important elements in successfully combating smallpox.