Vaccination against varicella as post-exposure prophylaxis in adults: a quantitative assessment

By Souty Cécile, Boos Evelyne, Turbelin Clément, Blanchon Thierry, Hanslik Thomas, and Boëlle Pierre-Yves
Vaccine (2014)

1 companion websites

Reactive vaccination of workplaces and schools against COVID-19

Working Paper (2021)

Faucher Benjamin, Assab Rania, Roux Jonathan, Levy-Bruhl Daniel, Tran-Kiem Cécile, Cauchemez Simon, Zanetti Laura, Colizza Vittoria, Boëlle Pierre-Yves, and Poletto Chiara

Efficient estimation of personalized biventricular mechanical function employing gradient‐basedoptimization

International Journal for Numerical Methods in Biomedical Engineering (2018)

Finsberg Henrik, Xi Ce, Tan Ju Le, Zhong Liang, Genet Martin, Sundnes Joakim, Lee Lik Chuan, and Wall Samuel

High emergency organ allocation rule in lung transplantation: a simulation study

ERJ Open Research (2017)

Riou Julien, Boëlle Pierre-Yves, Christie Jason D, and Thabut Gabriel

Maternal Exercise during Pregnancy Increases BDNF Levels and Cell Numbers in the Hippocampal Formation but Not in the Cerebral Cortex of Adult Rat Offspring

PLOS ONE (2016)

Gomes Sérgio

Considerations and Code for Partial Volume Correcting [18F]-AV-1451 Tau PET data

Neuroimage Data In Brief (2017)

Baker Suzanne, Maass Anne, and Jagust William

Estimating cardiac contraction through high resolution data assimilation of a personalized mechanical model

Journal of Computational Science (2017)

Finsberg Henrik, Balaban Gabriel, Ross Stian, Håland Trine F, Odland Hans Henrik, Sundnes Joakim, and Wall Samuel

Detailed contact data and the dissemination of Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals

PLOS Computational Biology (2015)

Obadia Thomas, Silhol Romain, Opatowski Lulla, Temime Laura, Legrand Judith, Thiébaut Anne C.M., Herrmann Jean-Louis, Fleury Éric, Guillemot Didier, and Boëlle Pierre-Yves

Abstract

Varicella can be severe in adults. When universal vaccination is not adopted, post-exposure prophylaxis has been recommended in adults with uncertain history of varicella to reduce the burden of the disease in adults, however its impact is not quantified. We developed a Bayesian probabilistic framework to estimate the impact of post-exposure prophylaxis in adults. We hypothesized that post-exposure vaccination would be proposed only after varicella exposure in close relatives. Information regarding the nature of the culprit exposure was obtained from a sample of 221 adult varicella cases. The lifelong probability that adults aged 18 would be infected with varicella was determined using data from the French Sentinelles surveillance network. Estimates of post-exposure vaccination efficacy were then used to compute the number of cases and hospitalizations prevented in adults. Familial exposure to varicella was reported by 81 adult cases out of 221. The probability of infection after exposure was 32%, so that 6 exposures on average were necessary to explain the observed cumulated lifetime incidence of varicella in non-immune 18 years old and over adults. Among the 35% of the 18 years old population with uncertain history of varicella, 11% would truly be non-immune. Post-exposure vaccination would prevent 26% of the cases (13 cases prevented per 100,000 adults per year) and 31% of the hospitalizations (0.2 hospitalizations prevented per 100,000 adults per year) if vaccination acceptance was 70%. An average of 16 adults would be vaccinated to avert one varicella case. Post-exposure vaccination is associated with a substantial decrease in the burden of the disease in adults in a country where universal vaccination is not recommended. This quantitative information may help inform professionals to uphold the recommendation.

See paper

Suggested citation

Souty C., Boos E., Turbelin C., Blanchon T., Hanslik T., and Boëlle P. (2014) Vaccination against varicella as post-exposure prophylaxis in adults: a quantitative assessment. Vaccine.

See paper