Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Varicella and Zoster

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Vaccines: A Biography

Abstract

It has been more than 30 years since Michiaki Takahashi of Osaka, Japan, attenuated the varicella–zoster virus (VZV) to produce the Oka vaccine strain of live, attenuated varicella vaccine. The initial trials of safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy were carried out in Japan in the early 1970s. Subsequently, large-scale confirmatory studies of immunogenicity and safety were performed mainly in the United States. Initially, these involved immunocompromised children, but later healthy children were immunized, and there was greater interest in vaccinating healthy populations than immunocompromised ones. These clinical trials culminated in the licensure of a single dose of varicella vaccine for all American children in 1995. Currently, the vaccine is used to prevent chickenpox worldwide and has been licensed for universal vaccination in many countries including Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Qatar, Sicily, South Korea, Taiwan, and Uruguay (Gershon et al. 2008). While it has not achieved general acceptance in Japan, interest in its use there is increasing. While it took many years to gain general acceptance in Japan, the vaccine is now being used more and more in that country. The latest exciting advance regarding the Oka vaccine is that a high-titered formulation is now being used as a therapeutic vaccine to boost immunity to VZV in the elderly with latent infection in order to prevent zoster. This chapter discusses the almost 40-year saga of the development of vaccines against VZV.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Arbeter AL, Granowetter S, Starr B et al (1990) Immunization of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with live attenuated varicella vaccine without complete suspension of chemotherapy. Pediatrics 85:338–344

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arvin A, Gershon A (2006) Control of varicella: why is a two-dose schedule necessary? Pediatr Infect Dis J 25:475–476

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asano Y, Nakayama H, Yazaki T et al (1977) Protection against varicella in family contacts by immediate inoculation with live varicella vaccine. Pediatrics 59:3–7

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brisson M, Edmunds WJ, Law B et al (2001) Epidemiology of varicella zoster virus infection in Canada and the United Kingdom. Epidemiol Infect 127:305–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Broyer M, Tete MT, Guest G et al (1997) Varicella and zoster in children after kidney transplantation: Long term results of vaccination. Pediatrics 99:35–39

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brunell PA, Shehab Z, Geiser C et al (1982) Administration of live varicella vaccine to children with leukemia. Lancet 2:1069–1073

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brunell PA, Taylor-Wiedeman J, Geiser CF et al (1986) Risk of herpes zoster in children with leukemia: Varicella vaccine compared with history of chickenpox. Pediatrics 77:53–56

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control (1996) Prevention of varicella: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 45:1–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaves SS, Gargiullo P, Zhang JX et al (2007) Loss of vaccine-induced immunity to varicella over time. N Engl J Med 356:1121–1129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Gershon A, Silverstein SJ et al (2003). Latent and lytic infection of isolated guinea pig enteric and dorsal root ganglia by varicella zoster virus. J Med Virol 70:S71–S78

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen JJ, Zhu Z, Gershon AA et al (2004) Mannose 6-phosphate receptor dependence of varicella zoster virus infection in vitro and in the epidermis during varicella and zoster. Cell 119:915–926

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Civen R, Lopez AS, Zhang J et al (2008). Varicella outbreak epidemiology in an active surveillance site, 1995–2005. J Infect Dis 197(Suppl 2):S114–S119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Committee on Infectious Diseases (1995) Live attenuated varicella vaccine. Pediatrics 95:791–796

    Google Scholar 

  • Feldman S, Hughes W, Daniel C (1975) Varicella in children with cancer: 77 cases. Pediatrics 80:388–397

    Google Scholar 

  • Galea SA, Sweet A, Beninger P et al (2008). The safety profile of varicella vaccine: A 10-year review. J Infect Dis 197(Suppl 2):S165–S169

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gershon A, Steinberg S, Gelb L et al (1984) Live attenuated varicella vaccine: Efficacy for children with leukemia in remission. JAMA 252:355–362

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gershon A, LaRussa P, Steinberg S (1996a) Varicella vaccine: Use in immunocompromised patients. Infect Dis Clin North Am 10:583–594

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gershon A, LaRussa P, Steinberg S et al (1996b) The protective effect of immunologic boosting against zoster: An analysis in leukemic children who were vaccinated against chickenpox. J Infect Dis 173:450–453

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gershon A, Takahashi M, Seward J (2008). Live attenuated varicella vaccine. In: Plotkin S, Orenstein W, Offit P (eds) Vaccines, 5th edn. WB Saunders, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy IB, Gershon A, Steinberg S et al (1991) The incidence of zoster after immunization with live attenuated varicella vaccine. A study in children with leukemia. N Engl J Med 325:1545–1550

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hattori A, Ihara T, Iwasa T et al (1976) Use of live varicella vaccine in children with acute leukemia or other malignancies (letter). Lancet 2:210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hilleman MR, Buynak EB, Weibel RE et al (1968) Live, attenuated mumps-virus vaccine. N Engl J Med 278:227–232

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Insinga RP, Itzler RF, Pellissier JM et al (2005) The incidence of herpes zoster in a United States administrative database. J Gen Intern Med 20:748–753

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Izawa T, Ihara T, Hattori A et al (1977) Application of a live varicella vaccine in children with acute leukemia or other malignant diseases. Pediatrics 60:805–809

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jumaan AO, Yu O, Jackson LA et al (2005) Incidence of herpes zoster, before and after varicella-vaccination-associated decreases in the incidence of varicella, 1992–2002. J Infect Dis 191:2002–2007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kamiya H, Kato T, Isaji M et al (1984) Immunization of acute leukemic children with a live varicella vaccine (Oka strain). Biken J 27:99–102

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Katz SL, Medearis DN, Enders JF (1958) Experiences with live attenuated measles virus. Am J Dis Child 96:430

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempe CH, Gershon AA (1977) Varicella vaccine at the crossroads. Pediatrics 60:930–931

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krugman S (1960) Varicella and herpes virus infections. Pediatr Clin North Am 7:881–902

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krugman S, Goodrich CH, Ward R (1957) Primary varicella pneumonia. N Engl J Med 257:843–848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kuter B, Matthews H, Shinefield H et al (2004) Ten year follow-up of healthy children who received one or two injections of varicella vaccine. Pediatr Infect Dis J 23:132–137

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaRussa P, Lungu O, Hardy I et al (1992) Restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction products from vaccine and wild-type varicella-zoster virus isolates. J Virol 66:1016–1020

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leung J, Molinari N, Harpaz R (2005) Trends in the incidence of herpes zoster using a national insurance database: United States 1993–2003. Presented at the 43rd Annual Infectious Disease Society of America Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 6–9 October 2005

    Google Scholar 

  • Levin MJ, Dahl KM, Weinberg A et al (2003) Development of resistance to acyclovir during chronic Oka strain varicella-zoster virus infection in an immunocompromised child. J Infect Dis 188:954–959

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Levin MJ, Gershon AA, Weinberg A et al (2006) Administration of live varicella vaccine to HIV infected children with current or past significant depression of CD4(+) T cells. J Infect Dis 194:247–255

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Loparev VN, Rubtcova E, Seward JF et al (2007) DNA sequence variability in isolates recovered from patients with post-vaccination rash or herpes zoster caused by Oka varicella vaccine. J Infect Dis 195:502–510

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez AS, Burnett-Hartman A, Nambiar R et al (2008). Transmission of a newly characterized strain of varicella-zoster virus from a patient with herpes zoster in a long term care facility, West Virginia, 2004. J Infect Dis 197:646–653

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Michalik DE, Steinberg SP, LaRussa PS et al (2008) Primary vaccine failure after 1 dose of varicella vaccine in healthy children. J Infect Dis 197:944–949

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mullooly JP, Riedlinger K, Chun C et al (2005) Incidence of herpes zoster, 1997–2002. Epidemiol Infect 133:245–253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neff BJ, Weibel RE, Villerajos VM et al (1981) Clinical and laboratory studies of KMcC strain of live attenuated varicella virus. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 166:339–347

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen HQ, Jumaan AO, Seward JF (2005) Decline in mortality due to varicella after implementation of varicella vaccination in the United States. N Engl J Med 352:450–458

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oxman MN, Levin MJ, Johnson GR et al (2005) A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in older adults. N Engl J Med 352:2271–2284

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plotkin SA, Farquhar JD, Katz M et al (1969) Attenuation of RA 27–3 rubella virus in WI-38 human diploid cells. Am J Dis Child 118:178–185

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ragozzino ME, Melton LF, Kurland L et al (1982) Population-based study of herpes zoster and its sequelae. Medicine 61:310–316

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sabin AB, Hennessen WA, Winsser J (1954) Studies on variants of poliomyelitis virus. I. Experimental segregation and properties of avirulent variants of three immunologic types. J Exp Med 99:551–576

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sakurai N, Ihara T, Ito M et al (1982) Application of a live varicella vaccine in children with acute leukemia. Exerpta Medica, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Seward JF, Orenstein WA (2006) Commentary: The case for universal varicella immunization. Pediatr Infect Dis J 25:45–46

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seward JF, Watson BM, Peterson CL et al (2002) Varicella disease after introduction of varicella vaccine in the United States, 1995–2000. JAMA 287:606–611

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seward JF, Zhang JX, Maupin TJ et al (2004). Contagiousness of varicella in vaccinated cases: A household contact study. JAMA 292:704–708

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharrar RG, LaRussa P, Galea S et al (2000) The postmarketing safety profile of varicella vaccine. Vaccine 19:916–923

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shinefield H, Black S, Digilio L et al (2005) Evaluation of a quadrivalent measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine in healthy children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 24:665–669

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Son M, Shapiro E, LaRussa P et al (2008). Vaccination of children with perinatal HIV infection protects against varicella and zoster. Paper presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI, 3–6 May 2008

    Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Otsuka T, Okuno Y et al (1974) Live vaccine used to prevent the spread of varicella in children in hospital. Lancet 2:1288–1290

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Kamiya H, Baba K et al (1985) Clinical experience with Oka live varicella vaccine in Japan. Postgrad Med 61:61–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takahashi M, Baba K, Horiuchi K et al (1990) A live varicella vaccine. Advances in experimental medicine and biology, vol 278. Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Theiler M, Smith HH (1937) The use of yellow fever virus modified by in vitro cultivation for human immunization. J Exp Med 65:787–800

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Varis T, Vesikari T (1996) Efficacy of high titer live attenuated varicella vaccine in healthy young children. J Infect Dis 174:S330–S334

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vazquez M, LaRussa P, Gershon A et al (2001) The effectiveness of the varicella vaccine in clinical practice. N Engl J Med 344:955–960

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vazquez M, LaRussa PS, Gershon AA et al (2004) Effectiveness over time of varicella vaccine. JAMA 291:851–855

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weibel R, Neff BJ, Kuter BJ et al (1984) Live attenuated varicella virus vaccine: Efficacy trial in healthy children. N Engl J Med 310:1409–1415

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weller TH (1992) Varicella and herpes zoster: A perspective and overview. J Infect Dis 166(Suppl 1):S1–S6

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weller TH and Stoddard MB (1952) Intranuclear inclusion bodies in cultures of human tissue inoculated with varicella vesicle fluid. J Immunol 68:311–319

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White CJ (1996) Clinical trials of varicella vaccine in healthy children. Infect Dis Clin North Am 10:595–608

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams V, Gershon A, Brunell P (1974) Serologic response to varicella-zoster membrane antigens measured by indirect immunofluorescence. J Infect Dis 130:669–672

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood MJ (2000) History of varicella zoster virus. Herpes 7(3):60–65

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood SM, Shah SS, Steenhoff AP et al (2008) Primary varicella and herpes zoster among HIV infected children from 1989 to 2006. Pediatrics 121:e150–e156

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yih WK, Brooks DR, Lett SM et al (2005) The incidence of varicella and herpes zoster in Massachusetts as measured by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) during a period of increasing varicella vaccine coverage, 1998–2003. BMC Public Health 5:68

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou F, Harpaz R, Jumaan AO et al (2005) Impact of varicella vaccination on health care utilization. JAMA 294:797–802

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA

    Anne A. Gershon

Authors
  1. Anne A. Gershon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne A. Gershon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Medicine & Community Health, Brown University, Providence, 02912, U.S.A.

    Andrew W. Artenstein

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gershon, A.A. (2010). Varicella and Zoster. In: Artenstein, A. (eds) Vaccines: A Biography. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1108-7_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation