Related Experiment Videos
Update on varicella vaccine
Insights
The live varicella vaccine is effective for children and adolescents, inducing long-term immunity. It can also be safely administered to immunocompromised children, reducing disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Varicella (chickenpox) is a common childhood illness.
- Live varicella vaccines are available in several countries, including the US.
- Vaccination strategies vary by age and immune status.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the efficacy and application of live varicella vaccine.
- To discuss varicella vaccine use in different pediatric populations.
- To highlight the benefits of varicella immunization.
Main Methods:
- Review of licensed varicella vaccine data.
- Analysis of vaccination schedules for different age groups.
- Evaluation of vaccine effectiveness and immunogenicity.
- Consideration of varicella vaccine in immunocompromised children.
Main Results:
- Live varicella vaccine is highly effective under routine conditions.
- Immunization induces long-term humoral and cellular immunity.
- Vaccine is suitable for immunocompromised children, including leukemia patients and transplant recipients, upon immune recovery.
- Inactivated vaccines can mitigate varicella-zoster virus reactivation in high-risk groups.
Conclusions:
- Varicella vaccination is a safe and effective strategy for preventing chickenpox.
- Long-term immunity is achieved through varicella immunization.
- Vaccination is beneficial for both healthy and immunocompromised children.
- Varicella vaccine plays a crucial role in public health for chickenpox prevention.
Abstract:
A live varicella vaccine has been licensed in Japan, Korea, some European countries, and the United States. Susceptible children can receive varicella vaccine at 12 to 18 months of age, and those who lack a reliable history of chickenpox should be immunized between 11 and 12 years of age. Susceptible children 13 years of age or older should receive two doses at least 1 month apart. Varicella vaccine administered under routine conditions has been proved to be highly effective. Varicella immunization has induced long-term humoral and cellular immunity. The varicella vaccine can be given in immunocompromized children, including children with leukemia and bone marrow transplantation recipients, when immune function recovers. Inactivated varicella vaccine can also reduce morbidity due to varicella zoster virus reactivation in high-risk populations.