VIG is recommended for severe generalized vaccinia if the patient is extremely ill or has a serious underlying disease.

Cowpox is caused by the vaccinia virus and has been known to cause systemic reactions (generalized vaccinia) in some people who have been recently vaccinated against cowpox.

Generalized vaccinia is a cutaneous condition that occurs 6-9 days after vaccination, characterized by a generalized eruption of skin lesions, and caused by the vaccinia virus.

If they or a family member suffered a bad reaction - whether resulting in a day off work because of fever or a rare but life-threatening case of encephalitis or generalized vaccinia - they might not be covered by workers' compensation, they said.