Lengthy tale of varicella vaccine development finally nears a clinically useful conclusion
Article Abstract:
It appears that a vaccine against varicella-zoster virus may be available in 1995. Varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox. The vaccine has been under development since the 1960s. Many of the setbacks that delayed Food and Drug Administration approval of the vaccine were related to the nature of the virus itself. Merck Sharp & Dohme began investigating varicella vaccines in 1966. However, the focus of the research changed in 1981 when the company began developing a live-virus chickenpox vaccine using a strain of virus isolated in Japan. Results of the effectiveness of the live-virus vaccine were presented by Michiaki Takahashi at a 1979 National Institutes of Health workshop. Merck began using the Japanese strain of the virus in studies in healthy and immunodeficient children. There was a setback in 1983 when the vaccine was tested in children with leukemia. However, this was soon remedied. Approximately 4.3% of vaccinated children develop chickenpox within three to five years after vaccination. This compares well with the 8% to 9% of unvaccinated children who develop chickenpox.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
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Facing inevitable future flu seasons, experts set 1996 vaccine and plan for unpredictable pandemic
Article Abstract:
Influenza vaccines for the 1996 flu season are being prepared, as are plans for the management of the next flu pandemic. Three subtypes of the influenza virus have been identified for the 1996 vaccine, based on the 1995 season and global flu occurrences. Influenza has reached pandemic proportions at least three times in the twentieth century, and a new pandemic is inevitable in the minds of many. Though the date of this pandemic cannot be predicted, a group of government agencies, the Interagency Group on Influenza Pandemic Preparedness, is working on a plan to minimize its effects. Beyond the medical aspects, which are hard to predict due to a lack of certainty about the types of viruses that will reach pandemic proportions, the group is identifying actions that will need to be taken by state, federal and local agencies. Control and prevention are major concerns of the group.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1995
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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