Simultaneous administration of varicella vaccine and other recommended childhood vaccines--United States, 1995-1999

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2001 Nov 30;50(47):1058-61.

Abstract

Live attenuated varicella vaccine (Var) is recommended in the United States for children aged 12-18 months and for susceptible older children, adolescents, and adults. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that Var be administered either simultaneously with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or separately by > or =30 days. This report summarizes an evaluation of these recommendations, which found that a decrease in Var effectiveness occurred when Var was administered <30 days after MMR; therefore, as currently recommended, physicians should administer Var simultaneously with MMR or wait at least 30 days if the vaccines are administered separately.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Chickenpox / epidemiology
  • Chickenpox / prevention & control
  • Chickenpox Vaccine / administration & dosage*
  • Chickenpox Vaccine / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule*
  • Infant
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / administration & dosage
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Risk
  • United States

Substances

  • Chickenpox Vaccine
  • Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine