Is the current Uniform Donor History Questionnaire (UDHQ) sufficient for screening donors who have received a smallpox vaccination? If not, how long do we have to implement the new question?

No, the current UDHQ does not provide ample deferral time for the smallpox vaccination in all cases. In some instances, delayed immunity or disruption of a smallpox vaccination scab can delay healing of the vaccination site for at least 6 weeks. FDA recommends that the specific question related to smallpox immunization described in the guidance should be implemented for all donors as soon as possible.