Varicella Vaccine

Robyn Mauldin-McLeod

What this is…

Overview Complications Methods of exposure prior

to the vaccine Description of the vaccine-

benefits and risks Example of a case where

this information is relevant Argument for the use of the

Varicella vaccine from personal experiences

About Varicella Comes from the Varicella Zoster Virus Varicella (chicken pox)- childhood Herpes Zoster (shingles)- late adulthood Chickenpox: fluid filled skin lesions that scab, crust over, and fall off Treatments: home remedies such as oatmeal baths, covering children’s

hands so they won’t itch, or using lotions Academic concerns: students typically miss 5-6 days

My Case

Kindergarten class outbreak

10 bumps Did not know if it was a

mild case or something completely unrelated

Pediatricians thought that I would be likely to get it if exposed to it again

Kindergarten

Chickenpox Parties

Also known as exposure parties Parents would exposure their child to one

with chicken pox so they would get the virus at a younger age.

Common before vaccine Raises concern about willfully spreading

infectious diseases

My “parties”

Brother had a typical case

Neighborhood friend had a cousin who was invited to come to the park

Did not develop chickenpox

My brother at the age he had the virus

Fun times at Crowe Park

Complications

Rare severe complications Adults and adolescents, pregnant women

fetuses, newborns, infants, and people with compromised immune systems at risk

Complications: infections, high fevers, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, encephalitis, pneumonia, Reye’s syndrome etc.

Can result in hospitalizations or death

Why I was at risk?

Not sure that I ever had the chickenpox

Parties unsuccessful Close to adolescence.

My mother, a nurse, was concerned about me getting it when I was older

The development of the vaccine Developed in Japan in 1974 US since 1995 Live attenuated virus Prevents chickenpox in 70-90% of people (mild

case) MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) vaccine Most states including North Carolina now require it

for entering daycare and kindergarten

Pros

Shingles are less common with vaccine

Less hospitalizations since vaccine

If people develop chickenpox approx. 50 lesions (typical wild case 300-500)

More cost effective (cost of vaccine versus cost of hospitalization)

People still can get Varicella People who are allergic to

neomycin and gelatin may develop allergic reactions

Adults may run a low grade fever

Rash may develop (MMRV vs. MMR or Varicella)

More research still needed about long term immunity

Cons

My initial vaccination

Got the vaccine in 1996 11 years old No symptoms Was new vaccine but this would now be considered

a “catch up” because of my age

New developments

Recommend to be given in two doses (initial with booster shot given 4-6 years later)

North Carolina requirements-1 dose if born in 2001 or later

Should I get another vaccine? Microbiologist told me of recommendations of

another dose I work in a preschool (not-state run) and

don’t have access to vaccination information Discussed with my physician

Varicella Outbreak

Students in NC who are born before 2001 are not required to have been vaccinated

Adults with shingles Outbreak recommendations

Students-lesions crust (non-contagious) Adults with Herpes Zoster-Antiviral medications Vaccination (families, peers, 2nd dose) Notification Letters to parents

An advocate for the Vaccine Another dose Didn’t develop any

symptoms (Tetanus booster in other

arm the same day) Soreness around Tetanus shot but not Varicella

Older non-vaccinated students coworkers with shingles

Complications in adulthood

Discovered from fiancé's case that it recommended when traveling abroad

Both Chicken pox free due to Varicella Vaccine!

References

Campos, A. J., Varicella Zoster virus. Retrieved April 18, 2009 from http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/heic/ID/vzv/

Davis, M. M. et al. (2004). Benefits of Varicella vaccine. Pediatrics, (114) 786-792.

Chickenpox vaccine: What you need to know (2008). In Centers for Disease and Control online Retrieved April 17, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-varicella.pdf

Exposure parties (2007). In National Network for Immunization Information database. Retrieved April 18, 2009 from http://www.immunizationinfo.org/exposure_parties_detail.cfv?id=20

Varicella (chickenpox) vaccination (2009). In Centers for Disease and Control online Retrieved April 17, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/default.htm