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Varicella Vaccine Reduces Shingles Risk in Children OAKLAND, Calif -- December 4 , 2009 -- Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is very rare among children who have been vaccinated against chicken pox, according to a study published in the December issue of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal. The study, the largest of its kind, used electronic health records to identify more than 170,000 children vaccinated with the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine from 2002 to 2008 in the Southern California region, and then followed the children for an average of 2.5 years to identify the occurrence of herpes zoster. Researchers found only 122 cases of herpes zoster among the 172,163 vaccinated children, for an estimated incidence of 1 case per 3,700 vaccinated children per year. This is a lower rate compared to what one would expect in the unvaccinated children based on previous experiences. “The message to parents and pediatricians is: Vaccinating your child against the chicken pox is also a good way to reduce their chances of getting herpes zoster,” said the study’s lead author, HungFu Tseng, PhD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente, Pasadena, California. “More research is needed to identify the virus strains that cause herpes zoster.” This study did not look at side effects of the varicella vaccine. Following licensure in 1995, single-dose varicella vaccine was recommended for children 12 months to 12 years of age. In 2006, a routine second dose of varicella vaccine for previously vaccinated persons aged 4 years and older was recommended. SOURCE: Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version