HBoV is circulating in the United States and is associated with both upper and lower respiratory tract disease in infants and young children.

The seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine prevents invasive disease in both healthy and chronically ill children. The vaccine is effective when used with various non-standard schedules.

Varicella vaccine is highly effective as used in clinical practice.

Influenza vaccine given to pregnant women is 91.5% effective in preventing hospitalization of their infants for influenza in the first 6 months of life.

is the recipient of a contract from Merck & Co to perform a varicella-specific PCR assay on blinded samples from recipients of varicella vaccine who have had adverse events potentially related to vaccination. Dr Gershon has received research support for a basic science project from Merck & Co. Drs Shapiro and Gershon served as consultants at a 1-day meeting on vaccine costeffectiveness sponsored by Merck & Co.