Transcript Varicella - mauldinmcleodrw

Varicella Vaccine
Robyn Mauldin-McLeod
What this is…
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Overview
Complications
Methods of exposure prior
to the vaccine
Description of the vaccinebenefits and risks
Example of a case where
this information is relevant
Argument for the use of the
Varicella vaccine from
personal experiences
About Varicella
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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
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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
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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”
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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
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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?
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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
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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
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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)
Cons
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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
My initial vaccination
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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
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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?
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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
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Students in NC who are born before 2001 are
not required to have been vaccinated
Adults with shingles
Outbreak recommendations
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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
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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
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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=
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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