VZV Foundation - A Decade Of Leadership In The Fight Against VZV Infections

	Oral Presentation Abstracts: 23 [23] VARICELLA SUSCEPTIBILITY AND VACCINE USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS ENLISTING IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY *M.A.K. Ryan, T.C. Smith, W.K. Honner, and G.C. Gray DoD Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA Primary varicella infection, or chicken pox, is a threat to all young adults who join the US military if they fail to develop immunity prior to enlistment. Historically, outbreaks of chicken pox have caused significant morbidity and impaired military readiness. In December 1996, the US Navy began performing serologic testing for varicella on all new recruits, and vaccinating those found to be sero-negative. We evaluated results of the screening program in its first three years, and used multivariable logistic modeling to describe demographic factors associated with varicella susceptibility. Cases of chicken pox were carefully tracked among all military services before and after program implementation. Nearly 150,000 young adults enlisted in the US Navy between 1997 and 1999. Recruits originated from all 50 states and several foreign countries, 85% were male, and their average age was 19 years. Seven percent were found to be susceptible (sero-negative) to varicella. In multivariable modeling, race (African American and Asian) was associated with susceptibility, but age, gender, and home state were not. The overall incidence of chicken pox in the Navy was reduced by more than 80% annually after initiation of the screening-vaccination program. Young adults enlisting in the military represent a diverse subset of the US population with special concern about varicella illness. A successful varicella screening-vaccination program has been implemented in the US Navy. Results of serologic screening performed on this large number of young adults may be useful in tracking the changing epidemiology of varicella in the general population in the post-vaccine era. Corresponding Author: Margaret A. K. Ryan, MD, MPH, Deputy Director, DoD Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, PO Box 85122, San Diego, CA 92186, USA; e-mail: ryan@nhrc.navy.mil

[23]

VARICELLA SUSCEPTIBILITY AND VACCINE USE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS ENLISTING IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY

*M.A.K. Ryan, T.C. Smith, W.K. Honner, and G.C. Gray DoD Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, CA

Primary varicella infection, or chicken pox, is a threat to all young adults who join the US military if they fail to develop immunity prior to enlistment. Historically, outbreaks of chicken pox have caused significant morbidity and impaired military readiness.
In December 1996, the US Navy began performing serologic testing for varicella on all new recruits, and vaccinating those found to be sero-negative. We evaluated results of the screening program in its first three years, and used multivariable logistic modeling to describe demographic factors associated with varicella susceptibility. Cases of chicken pox were carefully tracked among all military services before and after program implementation.
Nearly 150,000 young adults enlisted in the US Navy between 1997 and 1999. Recruits originated from all 50 states and several foreign countries, 85% were male, and their average age was 19 years. Seven percent were found to be susceptible (sero-negative) to varicella. In multivariable modeling, race (African American and Asian) was associated with susceptibility, but age, gender, and home state were not. The overall incidence of chicken pox in the Navy was reduced by more than 80% annually after initiation of the screening-vaccination program.
Young adults enlisting in the military represent a diverse subset of the US population with special concern about varicella illness. A successful varicella screening-vaccination program has been implemented in the US Navy. Results of serologic screening performed on this large number of young adults may be useful in tracking the changing epidemiology of varicella in the general population in the post-vaccine era.

Corresponding Author: Margaret A. K. Ryan, MD, MPH, Deputy Director, DoD Center for Deployment Health Research, Naval Health Research Center, PO Box 85122, San Diego, CA 92186, USA; e-mail: ryan@nhrc.navy.mil