Varicella Zoster Vaccine Experience in HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents

Live-attenuated Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) Vaccine was first developed in Japan and tested for safety in children who were steroid treated. It proved safe and immunogenic. This led to its testing in the United States in a population of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who were in remission. This study too showed that the vaccine was safe and immunogenic in this population. After the vaccine was approved for healthy children, it was tested in a population of HIV-infected children and adolescents with minimal to moderate immunosuppression (i.e., CD4 percentage of >25 and a count of >350). It also proved safe and relatively immunogenic in this population. Finally, it has been evaluated in a more immunocompromised population of HIV-infected children and adolescents (i.e., CD4 percentage >15 and a count >200). VZV vaccine also proved safe and relatively immunogenic in this population. It is suggested that two immunizations, 12 weeks apart, be the vaccination strategy for these HIV populations.