OBJECTIVES The reported incidence rate of varicella infection in Jeju-do is higher compared with the national average. This study aimed to examine varicella vaccination history and evaluate clinical manifestation of varicella cases in Jeju-do. METHODS Based on the guideline suggested by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), two epidemic investigations for varicella infe...

To the Editor: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a human herpesvirus, is the causative agent of varicella (chick-enpox) and herpes zoster (shingles). Worldwide, children are routinely vaccinated with a live attenuated vari-cella vaccine containing the Oka vaccine (vOka) strain of VZV, originally developed in Japan (1–3). Although the risk for secondary transmission of the vOka strain from immunocom...

AIM This study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of tetravalent measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine produced with measles and rubella monovalent bulks derived from a newly established working seed virus stock (MMRV(new WS)) compared with the combined MMRV vaccine derived from the current seed virus stock, in Taiwanese and Singaporean children (NCT00892775). METHODS Healthy ch...

OBJECTIVE to describe the impact of varicella vaccination on varicella-related hospitalization rates in countries that implemented universal vaccination against the disease. DATA SOURCE we identified countries that implemented universal vaccination against varicella at the http://apps.who.int/immunization_monitoring/globalsummary/schedules site of the World Health Organization and selected ar...

BACKGROUND After licensing of a varicella vaccine in Canada in 1998, Health Canada commissioned a study to evaluate options for a vaccination program. The evaluation of a program of vaccination of 12-month-old children, with and without a catch-up program for susceptible 12-year-olds, is presented here. METHODS An economic model was developed simulating the expected experience, with and witho...

Information about the genotype of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is useful to monitor outbreaks of vaccine strains. However, in South Korea, where varicella vaccine was introduced in 1988, there are limited data about the genotype of VZV. VZV was isolated from vesicular lesions of patients with herpes zoster or varicella in South Korea between January 2007 and June 2009. DNAs were purified from s...