Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume 203 Issue 3 February 1, 2011
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/jid/current

EDITORIAL COMMENTARIES
David W. Kimberlin
Control of Varicella Disease, Version 2.0
J Infect Dis. (2011) 203(3): 297-299 doi:10.1093/infdis/jiq053

In this issue of the Journal, Shapiro and colleagues present data from a case-controlled study of the effectiveness of 2 doses of varicella vaccine during the first several years after implementation of a routine 2-dose recommended schedule. At 98.3%, the effectiveness of the 2-dose schedule is welcome news indeed. These data validate the calculations of experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID), made in 2006 when both groups approved a recommendation for routine use of 2 doses of varicella vaccine during childhood. Shapiro and colleagues are to be commended for their forethought in establishing a broad surveillance network in Connecticut in the years after licensure of the varicella vaccine in 1995 and for their careful scientific and statistical evaluation of data generated from this important resource.

In understanding the context within which these new data should be viewed, it is important to reflect on the overall development and implementation of varicella vaccine. The strain that ultimately became the varicella vaccine …