Wednesday, May 12, 2004 - 11:45 AM
5448

Age-Specific Varicella Vaccine Coverage Rates in 3-17 Year Old Children in San Diego

Mark H. Sawyer1, Robert Vryheid2, Michelle Picardal2, Wendy Wang2, Nancy Fink2, K. Michael Peddecord2, Michelle Deguire2, Kathleen W. Gustafson2, and Sandy Ross2. (1) San Diego Immunization Partnership, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0927, La Jolla, CA, USA, (2) San Diego Immunization Program, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, PO Box 85222, Mail Stop P511B, 3851 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, CA, USA


BACKGROUND:
Since 1996 the ACIP has recommended that all children receive varicella vaccine beginning at 12 months of age. California added a kindergarten entry requirement for varicella vaccine in 2001 and physicians are now encouraged to provide catch up varicella vaccination for adolescents at an 11-12 year old visit.

OBJECTIVE:
1. Assess varicella vaccine coverage for children aged 3 through 17 years in San Diego County California.
2. Determine the need for strategies to improve varicella vaccination for teenagers and young adults.

METHOD:
The San Diego Immunization Program conducted a random digit dialing telephone survey of 3-17 year old children in 2003. Using household telephone number lists 1,455 parents were interviewed about their child’s varicella vaccination status as well as about demographics, attitudes, and behaviors. Vaccination dates are being verified using an immunization registry, and by calling medical providers. Fifty-one percent of the parents provided data from vaccination records, and 49% from recall of vaccination doses.

RESULT:
Based on non-provider-verified data, children born prior to the ACIP recommendation for routine varicella vaccination (1985-1995) have a coverage rate for 1 dose of varicella vaccine of 33-77%. Children born after the ACIP recommendation (1996-2000) have coverage rates of 83.8-92%. Breakthrough varicella despite vaccination occurred in 223 (21.4%) children and was generally mild although 78.9% of children with breakthrough disease were kept home from school or day care or kept out of normal activities during their breakthrough episode.

CONCLUSION:
Varicella vaccine coverage is high among the population born after the ACIP recommendation for routine vaccination. A substantial portion of older children and adolescents remain unprotected from varicella.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Describe the age-specific varicella vaccine coverage rate in 3-17 year old children in San Diego County of San Diego
Recognize the need for strategies to improve varicella vaccine coverage among older children and adolescents.

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