Journal of Vaccines & Vaccination

HZ incidence rates increase: Is this due to varicella vaccine use in children?

International Conference & Exhibition on Vaccines & Vaccination

22-24 Nov 2011 Philadelphia Airport Marriott, USA

Barbara P. Yawn, Peter Wollan and Marge Kurland RN

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Vaccines Vaccin

Abstract:

Herpes zoster has increased 6-fold over the past 65 years perhaps due to greater care seeking for HZ when oral antiviral therapy became available (1980s), wide spread use of the childhood varicella vaccine (aft er 1996), increasing use of immunosuppressive therapy and the aging of the population. Th is is a population based retrospective observational study of the incidence of herpes zoster virus infection confi rmed by medical record review to look for any infl ection points in the temporal HZ rates related to the timing of the above changes in HZ care. Th is is possible due to the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project that provides information on all clinical diagnoses of all patients seen within Olmsted County, MN since 1902. Results: Over the time period 10,852 HZ incidence cases were confi rmed by medical record review. Th e temporal trend in incidence rate based on per 100,000 individuals in shown in the graph. Th e temporal trends are similar by age and gender across the period. No infl ection points related to the introduction of antiviral medications (1980-1983), or to the widespread use of childhood varicella vaccine (1997 to 1998) are seen. (See graph) Th e percent of cases in people with immune-suppression increased only three fold from 2.4% (1945-1960) to 7.0% (1991-2007). Conclusions: None of the commonly suggested causes for temporal increases in herpes zoster including widespread use of the varicella vaccine in children can be substantiated. Th e cause remains unknown but of signifi cant importance in attempts to stem this six fold increase in disease.

Biography :

Professor Barbara Yawn is a family physician researcher with continuing interest in the natural history, burden, complications and prevention of VZV disease, especially HZ. She has authored over 240 peer reviewed papers and has recently been named as the editor in chief of the new Shingles and PHN journal scheduled to publish its fi rst issue in January 2012. She is director of research at the Olmsted Medical Center and a Professor of Family and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, USA