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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the following statement on cardiac risk factors and smallpox vaccination.

Cardiac contraindications for smallpox vaccination

June 1, 2003

Cardiac contraindications for smallpox vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the following statement on cardiac risk factors and smallpox vaccination:

As a precautionary step, if you have been diagnosed by a doctor as having a heart condition with or without symptoms you should NOT get the smallpox vaccine at this time while experts continue their investigations. These include conditions such as:

  • known coronary disease including:
    • previous myocardial infarction (heart attack);
    • angina (chest pain caused by lack of blood flow to the heart);
  • congestive heart failure;
  • cardiomyopathy (heart muscle becomes inflamed and doesn’t work as well as it should);
  • stroke or transient ischemic attack (a "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage);
  • chest pain or shortness of breath with activity (such as walking up stairs);
  • other heart conditions under the care of a doctor.

In addition, you should NOT get the smallpox vaccine if you have 3 or more of the following risk factors:

  • You have been told by a doctor that you have high blood pressure.
  • You have been told by a doctor that you have high blood cholesterol.
  • You have been told by a doctor that you have diabetes or high blood sugar.
  • You have a first-degree relative (for example mother, father, brother, or sister) who had a heart condition before age 50.
  • You smoke cigarettes now.

(Editor’s note: For more information, go to: www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/vaccination/heartproblems.asp.)