PEDIATRICS Vol. 105 No. 1 January 2000, p. e17
Received Jul 26, 1999; accepted Oct 21, 1999.
, and
From the * National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; and the
City of
Philadelphia Department of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
School-based vaccination clinics were offered in 2 schools experiencing varicella outbreaks. The clinics raised coverage of susceptible children from 52.9% to 92.2% and from 68.8% to 85.3% in the 2 schools, respectively. Although routine immunization and school-entry requirements are the best strategies for preventing outbreaks, school-based vaccination clinics may greatly increase coverage and shorten outbreaks.
Key words: varicella, outbreak control, varicella vaccine, school-based clinics, vaccine coverage.