Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan

A national immunization program using two doses of live attenuated varicella vaccine was introduced for children aged one to two years in Japan in October 2014. Varicella cases declined after 2014, and immunological status against varicella among vaccinated children changed in post-vaccination era....

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Main Authors: Yosuke Yasui, Toshikatsu Mitsui, Fujiyo Arima, Keiko Uchida, Mikako Inokuchi, Mitsuaki Tokumura, Tetsuo Nakayama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-08-01
Series:Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1890968
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author Yosuke Yasui
Toshikatsu Mitsui
Fujiyo Arima
Keiko Uchida
Mikako Inokuchi
Mitsuaki Tokumura
Tetsuo Nakayama
author_facet Yosuke Yasui
Toshikatsu Mitsui
Fujiyo Arima
Keiko Uchida
Mikako Inokuchi
Mitsuaki Tokumura
Tetsuo Nakayama
author_sort Yosuke Yasui
collection DOAJ
description A national immunization program using two doses of live attenuated varicella vaccine was introduced for children aged one to two years in Japan in October 2014. Varicella cases declined after 2014, and immunological status against varicella among vaccinated children changed in post-vaccination era. A retrospective observational study of anti-varicella antibody seroprevalence, varicella vaccination status, and history of varicella among 528 students in the first grade of elementary school was conducted. The percentage of students who received at least a single dose of varicella vaccination increased from 67% (187 of 279 students) in 2007–2008 to 91% (226 of 249 students) in 2017. Students with a history of varicella decreased from 114 of 279 (41%) in 2007–2008 to 48 of 249 (19%, P < .01) in 2017. Among them, the rate of breakthrough varicella after a single dose of vaccine in students with a history of varicella significantly increased from 38% (43 of 114 students) in 2007–2008 to 58% (28 of 48 students) in 2017 (P < .05). The antibody-positive rate significantly decreased from 50% among subjects without varicella zoster who received a single dose (95%CI: 41–58%) in 2007–2008 to 29% (95%CI: 21–38%) in 2017 (P < .01). The antibody-positive rate among students without varicella history who received two doses of vaccine was only 43% (95%CI: 32–55%) in 2017. The number of varicella infections and antibody-positive rate among students without history of varicella who received varicella vaccination decreased after the introduction of a national immunization program.
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spelling doaj.art-f9639df7a50a4e85a41c92fd6d0da3632023-09-25T11:13:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupHuman Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics2164-55152164-554X2021-08-011782494250010.1080/21645515.2021.18909681890968Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in JapanYosuke Yasui0Toshikatsu Mitsui1Fujiyo Arima2Keiko Uchida3Mikako Inokuchi4Mitsuaki Tokumura5Tetsuo Nakayama6Keio UniversityKeio UniversityKeio UniversityKeio UniversityKeio UniversityKeio UniversityKitasato Institute for Life SciencesA national immunization program using two doses of live attenuated varicella vaccine was introduced for children aged one to two years in Japan in October 2014. Varicella cases declined after 2014, and immunological status against varicella among vaccinated children changed in post-vaccination era. A retrospective observational study of anti-varicella antibody seroprevalence, varicella vaccination status, and history of varicella among 528 students in the first grade of elementary school was conducted. The percentage of students who received at least a single dose of varicella vaccination increased from 67% (187 of 279 students) in 2007–2008 to 91% (226 of 249 students) in 2017. Students with a history of varicella decreased from 114 of 279 (41%) in 2007–2008 to 48 of 249 (19%, P < .01) in 2017. Among them, the rate of breakthrough varicella after a single dose of vaccine in students with a history of varicella significantly increased from 38% (43 of 114 students) in 2007–2008 to 58% (28 of 48 students) in 2017 (P < .05). The antibody-positive rate significantly decreased from 50% among subjects without varicella zoster who received a single dose (95%CI: 41–58%) in 2007–2008 to 29% (95%CI: 21–38%) in 2017 (P < .01). The antibody-positive rate among students without varicella history who received two doses of vaccine was only 43% (95%CI: 32–55%) in 2017. The number of varicella infections and antibody-positive rate among students without history of varicella who received varicella vaccination decreased after the introduction of a national immunization program.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1890968varicellaimmunization programepidemiologysero-prevalenceelementary school students
spellingShingle Yosuke Yasui
Toshikatsu Mitsui
Fujiyo Arima
Keiko Uchida
Mikako Inokuchi
Mitsuaki Tokumura
Tetsuo Nakayama
Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
varicella
immunization program
epidemiology
sero-prevalence
elementary school students
title Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan
title_full Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan
title_fullStr Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan
title_full_unstemmed Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan
title_short Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan
title_sort changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in japan
topic varicella
immunization program
epidemiology
sero-prevalence
elementary school students
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2021.1890968
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