Author Archives: Taylor Mercado

PMID:  Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014 May ;20 Suppl 5:86-91. PMID: 24494784 Abstract Title:  Varicella vaccination: a laboured take-off. Abstract:  Varicella vaccines are highly immunogenic, efficacious and safe in preventing varicella disease. The USA has been the first country recommending universal vaccination. In the European Union/European Economic Area countries, the use of varicella vaccine is heterogeneous, …

Continue reading “Uncertainties on the potential impact of varicella vaccination on the epidemiology of varicella and herpes zoster still exist.”

PMID:  Vaccine. 2014 Feb 12 ;32(8):897-900. Epub 2014 Jan 9. PMID: 24412300 Abstract Title:  Decline of varicella vaccination in German surveillance regions after recommendation of separate first-dose vaccination for varicella and measles-mumps-rubella. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Germany introduced routine varicella (V) vaccination in 2004. Due to a slightly increased risk of febrile convulsions after first-dose application of …

Continue reading “MMRV vaccines are associated with an increased risk of febrile convulsions but the combination vaccine (as opposed to separate MMR and varicella vaccines) enhances vaccine uptake.”

PMID:  Vaccine. 2014 Feb 3 ;32(6):645-50. Epub 2013 Dec 25. PMID: 24374498 Abstract Title:  Risk of febrile convulsions after MMRV vaccination in comparison to MMR or MMR+V vaccination. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: In July 2006, Priorix-Tetra™, a combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine, was licensed in Germany. Since a postlicensure study had shown a more than twofold elevated risk …

Continue reading “Two brands of MMRV vaccines show similar risk of febrile convulsions, suggesting the risk is with MMRV vaccines as a class, not with specific manufacturers or individual vaccines.”

PMID:  Ann Intern Med. 2013 Dec 3 ;159(11):739-45. PMID: 24297190 Abstract Title:  Examination of links between herpes zoster incidence and childhood varicella vaccination. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Introduction of a universal varicella vaccine program for U.S. children in 1996 sparked concern that less-frequent exposure to varicella would decrease external boosting of immunity to varicella zoster virus and …

Continue reading “Herpes zoster incidence has increased 39% since 1992.”

PMID:  Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2014 ;10(1):146-9. Epub 2013 Aug 27. PMID: 23982221 Abstract Title:  Fatal varicella due to the vaccine-strain varicella-zoster virus. Abstract:  We describe a death in a 15-mo-old girl who developed a varicella-like rash 20 d after varicella vaccination that lasted for 2 mo despite acyclovir treatment. The rash was confirmed to be …

Continue reading “A case report of a a death in a 15-mo old girl who developed a varicella-like rash 20 d after varicella vaccination that lasted for 2 mo despite acyclovir treatment. The rash was confirmed to be due to vaccine-strain varicella-zoster virus.”

PMID:  Med Microbiol Immunol. 2013 Aug ;202(4):257-8. Epub 2013 May 7. PMID: 23649706 Abstract Title:  Progress in VZV vaccination? Some concerns. Abstract:  Since 1995, many countries have been aiming to replace the natural immunity against varicella by a vaccine-induced immunity to protect against varicella and herpes zoster. While the frequency of varicella in childhood has …

Continue reading “There is concern that increased incidence of herpes zoster in adults may offset the cost-effectiveness of the varicella vaccine.”

PMID:  Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Jul ;32(7):e305-13. PMID: 23838789 Abstract Title:  Primary versus secondary failure after varicella vaccination: implications for interval between 2 doses. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: Two-dose varicella vaccination is recommended for optimal control of varicella in populations with high (>90%) 1-dose coverage. Optimal timing of the second dose may depend on whether breakthrough …

Continue reading “Literature to date indicates a relatively high rate of primary varicella vaccine failure and limited evidence of secondary vaccine failure among 1-dose varicella vaccine recipients.”

PMID:  Vaccine. 2012 Nov 6 ;30(48):6935-9. Epub 2012 Aug 8. PMID: 22884663 Abstract Title:  Challenges in confirming a varicella outbreak in the two-dose vaccine era. Abstract:  BACKGROUND: A second dose of varicella vaccine was recommended for U.S. children in 2006. We investigated a suspected varicella outbreak in School District X, Texas to determine 2-dose varicella …

Continue reading “This study showed no difference in efficacy between one-dose and two-dose vaccine schedules.”

PMID:  Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2012 Nov ;31(11):1148-52. PMID: 22863912 Abstract Title:  Serologic analysis of the IgG antibody response in children with varicella zoster virus wild-type infection and vaccination. Abstract:  INTRODUCTION: In contrast to varicella zoster virus (VZV) primary infection, VZV vaccination does not seem to provide lifelong immunity against varicella. Because more people get …

Continue reading “In contrast to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) primary infection, chickenpox vaccination does not seem to provide lifelong immunity against varicella”

PMID:  Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013 Feb ;32(2):183-5. PMID: 22982982 Abstract Title:  Fatal wild-type varicella-zoster virus encephalitis without a rash in a vaccinated child. Abstract:  Encephalitis associated with varicella-zoster virus, rare among children in the varicella vaccine era, has generally been associated with a rash. We report fatal wild-type varicella-zoster virus encephalitis without a rash …

Continue reading “A case report of fatal wild-type varicella-zoster virus encephalitis without a rash in a child who had received 1 dose of varicella vaccine.”