Varicella vaccine in pregnancy

Changes in age related seroprevalence of antibody to varicella zoster virus: impact on vaccine strategy

“…6 Targeting women of reproductive age group, especially in a post partum programme, may be an effective vaccination strategy. 9 If VZV vaccine were to be introduced as a universal childhood vaccine in the UK, then the increase in prevalence in the 1-4 year age group seen in our study would suggest that, as in the USA, for the vaccination programme to be effective, 6 vaccine should be targeted at an age group of between 12 and 18 months; that is soon after the disappearance of maternal antibody.…”

Postlicensure Safety Surveillance for Varicella Vaccine

“…63 However, reported pregnancy exposures highlight the need for physicians to ask women of childbearing age, before administering varicella vaccine, about the possibilities of current pregnancy or planned or potential conception in the next month. Gestational exposures to varicella vaccine through confusion with varicella zoster immune globulin delay protection against VZV 64 and expose the developing embryo to a potentially teratogenic virus. 65 Continued reporting of this error despite initial publicity 66 indicates a need for additional educational interventions.…”

Evaluation of Varicella Immune Status in an Obstetric Population in Relation to Place of Birth

“…17,23 Knowing a woman's VZV immune status can prove important for swiftly identifying women who should receive varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG). VZIG can be administered to a neonate who was exposed between 5 days before and 2 days after delivery 1,18,24 and decreases mortality nearly to zero.…”

“…Although merely an itchy irritant to young children who contract it, chickenpox has been associated with stillbirth, congenital varicella syndrome, neonatal chickenpox, and zoster in infancy. [1][2][3][4] Congenital varicella syndrome can have serious outcomes, and many physicians therefore now recommend that their adult patients receive prenatal testing. 4 Varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection can cause serious maternal morbidity, and pregnancy is associated with increased severity of the disease.…”