PROTECTIVE EFFICACY OF VACCINATION IN CHILDREN IN 4 EPISODES OF NATURAL VARICELLA AND ZOSTER IN WARD

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (1) , 8-12
Abstract
A live varicella vaccine (Oka strain) was developed and the immediate vaccination of hospitalized children was effective for prevention of spread of varicella in a ward. Six to 9 mo. later, there were 4 separate episodes of varicella and zoster in the same ward. Children (11 with nephrotic syndrome, 6 with nephritis and 1 with hepatitis) with no history of varicella were inoculated with a live vaccine before or immediately after admittance or occurrence of the varicella and zoster cases. Of them, 12 were receiving steroid therapy and 15 of the 18 were seronegative by complement fixation and neutralization tests before the vaccination. All became seropositive after vaccination without any clinical symptoms. The longest period between vaccination and exposure was 9 mo. None of the vaccinees exhibited varicella symptoms after exposure. Serological follow-up of 10 vaccinated children was done, and booster responses were observed in some of them after exposure. The live vaccine affords immunity to the recipients. If hospitalized children are vaccinated before or immediately after exposure, isolation of the patient is apparently unnecessary.