Varicella-zoster virus vaccine

A 5-year-old boy developed zoster-like vesicular lesions 4 years after Varicella immunization. Virological examination showed Herpes simplex virus type 1, and so the vesicnlar lesions could not be attributed to the Varicella zoster virus vaccine strain, demonstrating the difficulty in confirming causality between time-related events (22). 

Infection risk An immunocompetent 3-year-old girl developed encephalitis and ophthalmic herpes zoster 20 months after immunization with varicella zoster virus vaccine [29 ]. Molecular analysis confirmed that the vaccine strain was the causative agent and this was therefore a between-the-eyes adverse reaction of type 4 [30 ]. After an intravenous course of aciclovir, the child made a full recovery with no neurological sequelae. 

Levin MJ, Debiasi RL, Bostik V, Schmid DS. Herpes zoster with skin lesions and meningitis caused by 2 different genotypes of the OKA varicella-zoster virus vaccine. J Infect Dis 2008 198 1444—7. 

The varicella vaccine is made up of an attenuated Oka strain of varicella zoster virus. This is a live attenuated vaccine. Attenuation was achieved by performing serial passages through human embryonic lung cells, embryonic guinea pig cells, and human diploid cells. 

Children less than 12 years of age will have a 97% seroconversion rate following a single vaccination. Adolescents and adults more than 13 years old will only have 78% seroconversion after a single inoculation, but will have 99% conversion after the second vaccination administered 4 to 8 weeks after the first. Antibody titers appear to persist for at least 20 years following immunization. Despite excellent seroconversion rates, breakthrough chickenpox is reported at a rate of 1 case per 10,000 doses distributed. Most cases occurred within the first year following vaccination, and were due to wild-type varicella zoster virus. The majority of breakthrough cases were mild and of short duration.12... 

Herpes Zoster (Shingles) Zostavax is a live attenuated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster in individuals 60 years or older. It is supplied in frozen lyophilized form and reconstituted before vaccination. The vaccine boosts VZV-specific immunity and protects individuals against zosters and its complications. 

Chickenpox or varicella is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV). Varicella vaccine is indicated for active immunisation against varicella in healthy subjects and their susceptible healthy close contacts from the age of 12 months onwards. 

The most notable example of live attenuated vaccines is the smallpox vaccine, first developed by Edward Jenner, although the origin of the vaccine (vaccinia virus) remains obscure. More recent examples of live attenuated vaccines include most of the viral vaccines currently in use, such as measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) and varicella zoster (VZV) vaccines, and some... 

Varicella virus vaccine. Oka/ Merck strain of live, attenuated varicella virus Varivax Varicella virus vaccine [BIO] Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) VARIVAX [TR] Varicella virus vaccine live (Oka/Merck) [FDA] Chickenpox vaccine [SY] NDC 0006-4826-00 -4827-00 [NDC]... 

A 19-month-old girl was immunized against Varicella at 15 months of age and later developed zoster infection (18). Viral cultures from various lesions isolated Varicella zoster virus. The Oka vaccine strain was revealed by polymerase chain reaction. 

A 6-year-old boy developed a zoster infection (with a vesicular rash in a left second thoracic dermatome pattern on his back extending to the back of his left arm) 15 days after the receipt of Varicella vaccine (Oka strain) (20). Molecular biological analysis of the virus isolated from the vesicles showed a pattern consistent with wild-type Varicella zoster virus. 

Infection risk Recurrent herpes zoster in an immunocompetent 2-year-old child was associated with the vaccine strain of varicella zoster virus by polymerase chain reaction this is a rare complication [47 ]. 

Ota K, Kim V, Lavi S, Ford-Jones EL, Tipples G, Scolnik D, Tellier R. Vaccine-strain varicella zoster virus causing recurrent herpes zoster in an immunocompetent 2-year-old child. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2008 27 847-8. 

A second case report of a 20-year-old male with IBD, protein-losing enteropathy hypogammaglobulinemia and glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency, on multiple immunosuppressants, presented with peripheral retinal necrosis 1 month following vaccination with Varivax . Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) of vitreal aspirate was positive for DNA from the Oka strain of varicella zoster virus, used in both Varivax and Zostavax [77 ]. 

Varicella zoster vaccines Live attenuated strain of Herpes virus... 

Evidence that convincingly supports a causal relationship Varicella zoster vaccine is linked to four specific adverse events, all due to infection from the vaccine virus strain ... 

Acquisition of either wild virus or the vaccine strain of varicella renders an individual susceptible to zoster (shingles) at a later date because of reactivation of latent virus. Data indicate that following varicella vaccination, zoster occurs less frequently than following natural infection. In fact, the varicella vaccine is being investigated as a means to boost cellular immunity in the elderly to prevent shingles. ... 

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