title: Evaluation of a vaccination strategy by serosurveillance data: The case of varicella.
abstract: Serological studies have many important epidemiologic applications. They can be used to investigate acquisition of various infections in different populations, measure the induction of an immune response in the host, evaluate the persistence of antibody, identify appropriate target groups and the age for vaccination. Serological studies can also be used to determine the vaccine efficacy. Since 1995 a varicella vaccine is available and it has been recommended in several countries (e.g. USA, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, etc.). Nevertheless few varicella seroprevalence studies in countries that adopted an URV are available. It is related to the relatively recent introduction of the vaccination and to the lack of structured and collaborative surveillance systems based on serosurvey at national or regional level. Varicella seroprevalence data collected before the introduction of vaccination strategies allowed to establish the age of vaccination (e.g., indicated the opportunity to offer the vaccine to Italian susceptible adolescents). In the post-vaccination era, seroprevalence data demonstrated vaccine as immunogenic and excluded an increase of the age of infection linked to the vaccination strategy. New seroprevalence studies should be performed to answer to open questions, such as the long-term immunity and the change of the herpes zoster epidemiological pattern related to the vaccine.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology ; Aldo Moro University of Bari ; Bari , Italy.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: Maria Serena
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gallone
authors.forename: Maria Filomena
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Gallone
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cappelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chironna
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Germinario
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine
keywords: URV; Universal Routine Vaccination.; age of infection; epidemiological pattern; immunogenicity of vaccines; mathematical model; seroprevalence data