To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: ESPID: Hospitalization Rates for Varicella Infections Fall in US after Vaccine Introduction URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/2303C6.htm Doctor's Guide April 11, 2003
By Ed Susman GIARDINI NAXOS, SICILY, ITALY -- April 11, 2003 -- The introduction of a varicella vaccine in the United States in 1995 was followed by a decrease in the rate of relatively rare hospitalizations for the serious complications of the infection, researchers reported here. Researchers looked over data from three states -- California, Connecticut and Washington -- as well as national statistics and noticed a fall from stable levels of hospitalization for varicella in each of the states that appears to correspond to the level of vaccination coverage in the state. "The data suggested that varicella hospitalization rates were stable before introduction of varicella vaccine and decreased significantly in the three studied states after vaccine introduction, without high rates of vaccine coverage," said Alexander Nikas, an epidemiologist with Merck & Co., Inc., West Point, Pennsylvania, in a poster presentation April 11th at the 21st Annual Meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. In California, with vaccine coverage at 74% for children under 2 years of age, the hospitalization rate for varicella complications was falling at the rate of 21.3% a year by the year 2000, he said. The hospitalization rate in California fell from about 6.1 cases per 100,000 people to about 1.6 cases per 100,000. In Connecticut, with vaccine coverage at 72% for children under 2 years of age, the hospitalization rate for varicella complications was falling at the rate of 19.7% a year by 2000, he said. The hospitalization rate in Connecticut fell from about 5.2 cases per 100,000 people to about 1.6 cases per 100,000. In Washington State, with vaccine coverage at 48% for children under 2 years of age, the hospitalization rate for varicella complications was falling at the rate of 11.7% a year by 2000, he said. The hospitalization rate in Washington fell from about 5.9 cases per 100,000 people to about 2.1 cases per 100,000. According to data gleaned from the US National Hospital Discharge Survey, with national vaccine coverage at 65%, the hospitalization rate fell from about 7.2 cases per 100,000 to about 2 cases per 100,000 by 2000. However, Dr. Nikas said that due to the nature of collection data, statistical analysis of the national figures was not performed. He said the decline in rates might represent herd immunity to varicella, despite high rates of coverage. He said the study was limited by only analyzing hospitalizations; by only looking at state level and not individual vaccination levels; by changes in varicella incidence and severity but also by medical practice coding. The study was supported by Merck Research Laboratories, manufacturer of Varivax varicella vaccine. [Study title: Varicella Hospitalisation Rates In The Us Before And After Vaccine Introduction. Abstract 122] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.