What is the purpose of ring vaccination in smallpox outbreak control?

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Ring vaccination targets those most likely to have been exposed and those around them, creating a protective barrier of immune individuals to halt further spread. When a smallpox case is identified, public health teams trace contacts—family, coworkers, neighbors—and vaccinate those contacts and then the people they’ve been in contact with. Because vaccination after exposure can prevent or lessen disease, this ring of immunized people disrupts transmission chains and can stop an outbreak from growing. It’s an efficient approach when vaccine supply is limited, focusing protection where it’s most needed rather than vaccinating the entire population.

Vaccinating everyone would be resource-intensive and unnecessary for containment. Vaccinating only healthcare workers misses many who could be at risk in the broader community. Waiting until cases are confirmed delays protection for those who may have been exposed, reducing the chance to interrupt transmission quickly.