New Chickenpox Vaccine Offers Hope for Prevention and Protection

Strategic Insights -

The first shipments of the new VARIVAX(R) chickenpox vaccine, manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc., will be made available to physicians on May 1. This vaccine is a significant advancement in the prevention of chickenpox, a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella virus. According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), chickenpox affects 3.5 million individuals annually, with most cases being extremely uncomfortable for the children and inconvenient for their parents. While the vaccine is expected to provide significant protection against the disease, it is essential for parents to understand the facts about chickenpox and its prevention.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella virus, affecting 3.5 million individuals annually, with most cases being extremely uncomfortable for the children and inconvenient for their parents.
  • The new VARIVAX(R) chickenpox vaccine, manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc., is expected to provide significant protection against the disease.
  • The vaccine will be made available to physicians on May 1, and clinical studies have shown that it can reduce the severity of the disease in those who experience symptoms despite vaccination.
  • Adults are more likely to experience severe symptoms of chickenpox, and the disease can pose a risk to unborn children if the expectant mother is infected.
  • The NFID strongly supports vaccination against chickenpox for all susceptible individuals 12 months of age and older, as it can prevent serious consequences, including hospitalization and death.
  • Clinical immunity from the vaccine appears to begin about 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination.
  • It is theoretically possible for the chickenpox virus to spread from a vaccinated child to others who might be susceptible to the disease, including pregnant individuals.
  • An individual who previously experienced natural chickenpox and then received the vaccine would not be at any increased risk from the vaccine.

Statistics:

  • 3.5 million cases of chickenpox occur annually.
  • Most cases of chickenpox result in extremely uncomfortable symptoms for children and inconvenient care for parents.
  • Children are 80% of the 9,000 previously healthy people hospitalized annually due to complications from chickenpox.
  • Adults are almost 10 times more likely than children to be hospitalized due to chickenpox and are more than 20 times more likely to die from the infection.
  • Approximately 2% of chickenpox cases occur in adults 20 years and older.
  • Chickenpox cases occur in 1-3% of vaccine recipients annually.

Sources:

  • PRNewswire (May 1, 1995)
  • National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID)
  • Merck & Co., Inc.