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<> May 08, 1992 / 41(18);326-327

Availability of Varicella Vaccine for Children with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

An investigational, live, attenuated varicella vaccine is available free of charge through Merck Research Laboratories to any physician requesting it for certain pediatric patients (aged 12 months to 17 years) with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Patients must meet specified criteria, including no clinical history of varicella and continuous remission for at least 12 months.

Varicella vaccine is being provided to this group of patients for use through a study protocol to monitor and evaluate safety. An Investigational New Drug application for the vaccine has been filed with the Food and Drug Administration.

Previous experience with this vaccine has shown it to be immunogenic in children with ALL (1). The most common reaction to the vaccine is a mild (fewer than 100 lesions) varicelli-form rash, occurring in approximately 40% of vaccinees (2).

The physician must provide information outlined in the protocol, and the protocol and consent form for the study must be approved by the institution's Investigational Review Board. Additional information about eligibility criteria and vaccine administration is available from Dr. Jo White, Merck Research Laboratories, telephone (215) 834-2554.

Reported by: Div of Immunization, National Center for Prevention Svcs, CDC.

References

1.      Gershon AA, Steinberg SP, Varicella Vaccine Collaborative Study Group of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Persistence of immunity to varicella in children with leukemia immunized with live attenuated varicella vaccine. N Engl J Med 1989;320:892-7.

2.      Lydick E, Kuter BJ, Zajac BA, Guess HA, Varicella Vaccine Collaborative Study Group of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Association of steroid therapy with vaccine-associated rashes in children with acute lymphocytic leukaemia who received Oka/Merck varicella vaccine. Vaccine 1989;7:549-53.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.