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May 6, 2002

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Varicella Vaccine and Shingles"

Journal of the American Medical Association (www.jama.com)

(05/01/02) Vol. 287, No. 17,

The authors of a recent study on the relationship between the varicella vaccine and shingles respond to a letter to the editor written by researchers at the Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Center in London.  The article, titled "Varicella Disease After Introduction of Varicella Vaccine in the United States, 1995-2000," was written by a team of scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.  The British researchers claim that the CDC's report tells only half the story, and they say that the varicella data should be presented with trends in annual age-specific cases of herpes zoster (HZ) in order to reveal the full impact of the vaccination program on the varicella zoster virus.  In response to the letter, the CDC researchers say that they agree with the British scientists that surveillance of HZ is necessary in order to evaluate the impact of the varicella vaccination campaign.  "Given the morbidity of HZ, an increase in incidence is of great concern," the CDC authors note.  They note that the CDC is currently funding two programs--one at the Group Health Cooperative in Seattle and the other at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health--to conduct population-based HZ and varicella surveillance and monitor age-specific incidence rates. In conclusion, the CDC authors assert, "Although we hope that varicella vaccination will result in declines in both varicella and HZ over time, protecting the large population of persons already at risk for HZ is a public health priority."

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.