Korean J Pediatr.  2006 Mar;49(3):229-234. 10.3345/kjp.2006.49.3.229.

Update in varicella vaccination

• Oh SH

• KMID: 2278579
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2006.49.3.229

Abstract

Varicella, which is mostly a benign disease, but also can cause considerable health burden in the community, can be prevented by immunization with live attenuated varicella vaccine. Higher uptake of varicella vaccine by universal immunization in North America has apparently been associated with decline in the number of reported cases of varicella, varicella-related hospitalizations, and the number of deaths caused by complications of varicella. On the contrary, there has been some reluctance in endorsing varicella vaccine for universal immunization in most of European countries. Concerns include unanticipated outbreaks of varicella among vaccine recipients, risk of varicella among unvaccinated adults, risk of herpes zoster among vaccinees as well as unvaccinees. Recently developed measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine and herpes zoster vaccine that may be licensed in the upcoming years may be the solution for varicella vaccine to be utilized in a greater scale. In Korea several varicella vaccine products have been utilized since late 1980. The adoption of varicella vaccine for universal immunization since 2005 along with the changing view in varicella prevention strategy mandates more studies for immunogenecity and efficacy of varicella vaccines as well as more surveillance to delineate the changes in epidemiology of varicella in Korea.

Keyword

Varicella; Vaccine; Herpes zoster; Outbreak

MeSH Terms

Adult
Chickenpox Vaccine
Chickenpox*
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemiology
Herpes Zoster
Herpes Zoster Vaccine
Hospitalization
Humans
Immunization
Korea
Measles
Mumps
North America
Rubella
Vaccination*
Vaccines
Chickenpox Vaccine
Herpes Zoster Vaccine
Vaccines