health
Varicella vaccination still helps infants too young to be immunized
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 5, 2011
Although infants are too young to receive the varicella vaccine, they have benefited from the immunization, which is recommended for children 12 months and older, according to a study published online Nov. 28 in Pediatrics.
Researchers tracked cases of varicella in infants younger than 12 months who live in the Los Angeles area and in west Philadelphia from 1995 through 2008. They found that varicella incidence among this age group declined 89.7% during the studied period. In 1995, there were 15.6 cases of chickenpox per 1,000 infants, compared with 1.6 cases per 1,000 infants in 2008. The reduction in infant varicella cases comes as vaccination against the disease increased in both study sites (link).
Researchers say the findings highlight the indirect benefits of the varicella vaccine in protecting infants who are too young to be immunized, by lowering their risk of exposure to the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children receive their first dose of varicella vaccine at 12 months through 15 months. The second dose should be administered between ages 4 and 6, the CDC says.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/12/05/hlbf1205.htm.
