Advertising Disclaimer
Published online February 1, 2007
PEDIATRICS Vol. 119 No. 2 February 2007, pp. 258-264 (doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0972)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (3)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Davis, M. M.
Right arrow Articles by Clark, S. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Davis, M. M.
Right arrow Articles by Clark, S. J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Infectious Disease & Immunity
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Facebook   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati   Add to Twitter  
What's this?

ARTICLE

Physician Attitudes Regarding Breakthrough Varicella Disease and a Potential Second Dose of Varicella Vaccine

Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPPa,b,c, Mona Marin, MDd, Anne E. Cowan, MPHa, Dalya Guris, MD, MPHd, Sarah J. Clark, MPHa

a Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, Division of General Pediatrics
b Division of General Internal Medicine
c Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
d National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia

OBJECTIVE. We assessed physicians’ attitudes about the 1-dose varicella vaccination program and whether physicians think a 2-dose recommendation is needed to reduce the risk of breakthrough disease.

METHODS. We conducted a national mail survey of a random sample of 550 pediatricians and 550 family physicians from April to June 2005. Physicians who provide outpatient primary care to children ≤6 years of age were eligible for analysis.

RESULTS. Surveys were returned by 727 respondents, for a response rate of 69%; 610 physicians were eligible. Most respondents (94%) recommend routine 1-dose varicella vaccination, and 79% have seen breakthrough disease in the past 5 years (95% of pediatricians and 58% of family physicians). The majority (68%) agreed or strongly agreed that the current burden of breakthrough disease is acceptable. Only 38% (46% of pediatricians and 28% of family physicians) agreed or strongly agreed that a second dose of varicella vaccine is needed to address the burden of breakthrough disease, whereas 40% were neutral. However, if the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices were to recommend a second dose of varicella vaccine, then 65% of pediatricians and 39% of family physicians would likely follow the recommendation. Most respondents (78%) would be more willing to recommend a second dose if a combination measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine was available.

CONCLUSIONS. Pediatricians and family physicians support the 1-dose varicella vaccination program. A new Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendation for a second dose of varicella vaccine for children was issued after the survey (in June 2006). Two of 3 pediatricians and 2 of 5 family physicians stated that they would adopt a 2-dose recommendation in practice; rates of adoption may be bolstered with current availability of measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine and harmonization of the varicella vaccination schedule with that of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.

Key Words: varicella • vaccine • physician • attitudes

Abbreviations: ACIP—Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices • FP—family physician • MMR—measles-mumps-rubella • MMRV—measles-mumps-rubella-varicella

Accepted Sep 28, 2006.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?