Clinical Therapeutics
April 2015 Volume 37, Issue 4, p687-924
http://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/current

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The Impact of 2-Dose Routine Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella Vaccination in France on the Epidemiology of Varicella and Zoster Using a Dynamic Model With an Empirical Contact Matrix
Mario J.N.M. Ouwens, Kavi J. Littlewood, Christophe Sauboin, Bertrand Téhard, François Denis, Pierre-Yves Boëlle, Sophie Alain
p816–829.e10
Published online: February 25, 2015
Open Access
Preview
Varicella has a high incidence affecting the vast majority of the population in France and can lead to severe complications. Almost every individual infected by varicella becomes susceptible to herpes zoster later in life due to reactivation of the latent virus. Zoster is characterized by pain that can be long-lasting in some cases and has no satisfactory treatment. Routine varicella vaccination can prevent varicella. The vaccination strategy of replacing both doses of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) with a combined MMR and varicella (MMRV) vaccine is a means of reaching high vaccination coverage for varicella immunization.

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Cost-Effectiveness of Routine Varicella Vaccination Using the Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella Vaccine in France: An Economic Analysis Based on a Dynamic Transmission Model for Varicella and Herpes Zoster
Kavi J. Littlewood, Mario J.N.M. Ouwens, Christophe Sauboin, Bertrand Tehard, Sophie Alain, François Denis
p830–841.e7
Published online: February 23, 2015
Open Access
Preview
Each year in France, varicella and zoster affect large numbers of children and adults, resulting in medical visits, hospitalizations for varicella- and zoster-related complications, and societal costs. Disease prevention by varicella vaccination is feasible, wherein a plausible option involves replacing the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine with the combined MMR and varicella (MMRV) vaccine. This study aimed to: (1) assess the cost-effectiveness of adding routine varicella vaccination through MMRV, using different vaccination strategies in France; and (2) address key uncertainties, such as the economic consequences of breakthrough varicella cases, the waning of vaccine-conferred protection, vaccination coverage, and indirect costs.