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ARTICLES:
Dana Perella, Alexander G. Fiks, Aisha Jumaan, Donovan Robinson, Paul Gargiullo, Jonathan Pletcher, Christine M. Forke, D. Scott Schmid, Mia Renwick, Foram Mankodi, Barbara Watson, and C. Victor Spain
Validity of Reported Varicella History as a Marker for Varicella Zoster Virus Immunity Among Unvaccinated Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults in the Post–Vaccine Licensure Era
Pediatrics 2009; 123: e820-e828 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetters] Age Considerations for Universal Varicella Vaccination
Shoshana T. Melman   (27 April 2009)

Age Considerations for Universal Varicella Vaccination 27 April 2009
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Shoshana T. Melman,
Pediatrician
CARES Institute; UMDNJ-SOM

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Re: Age Considerations for Universal Varicella Vaccination

melmanst{at}umdnj.edu Shoshana T. Melman

Congratulations to D. Perella, et. al. on a much-needed study. In the conclusions section, however, the authors write that "a reported history is no longer highly predictive of seropositivity among cohorts born since 1994 (participants less than or equal to 9 years of age)." Participants born since 1994 would actually currently be less than or equal to fifteen years of age. Since the study results indicated that the predictive value of a reported varicella history varies with patient age, it is very important that the authors clarify their recommendations for the age (or birth year) at which they recommend that "immunization policymakers should consider universal varicella vaccination, regardless of history, for individuals born in the United States."

Conflict of Interest:

None declared