This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Varicella incidence decreased after two-dose vaccination
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Cases of varicella decreased in New Hampshire after the two-dose vaccination recommendation in 2006, especially in patients aged 5 to 19 years, according to study results.
Researchers found that cases of varicella decreased 61% between 2006 and 2010. The greatest reductions were in children aged 5 to 9 years (75%) and those aged 10 to 19 years (63%).
Potentially preventable cases decreased from 59% of 396 patients with known immunity status in 2006 to 34% of 125 patients in 2010. Children who received a vaccine more than 42 days before symptom onset accounted for most cases with known immunity status and decreased significantly from 2006 to 2010 (67% of 396 cases in 2006; 65% of 251 cases in 2008; 52% of 125 cases in 2010).
According to researchers, vaccination rates of at least one dose increased from 28.1% to 92.8% in 19- to 35-month-old children between 1997 and 2010. Varicella vaccination among those aged 13 to 17 years was 97.5% in 2010 for at least one dose and 96.8% for at least two doses. Researchers said one- and two-dose coverage in teens was higher in New Hampshire than national coverage estimates.
“Institution of a requirement for two doses of varicella vaccine in 2009 for school entry is expect to further decrease incidence of varicella in New Hampshire,” Elizabeth R. Daly, MPH, of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, and colleagues said. “Analysis of public health surveillance data is critical to information and monitoring the impact of policy decisions since there is a close relationship between disease incidence and vaccine recommendations as described in this study.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts