Abstract
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is the cause of chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster), and was once responsible for over 4 million infections in the United States annually. The development of a live attenuated VZV vaccine was initially viewed with extreme skepticism. Nonetheless, a VZV vaccine was developed in the 1970s by Takahashi and his colleagues in Japan and was eventually licensed in the US. It is now known to be one of the safest and most effective vaccines available and is administered worldwide. Here are described important factors that contributed to the successful research and licensure of the highly successful VZV vaccine.
Keywords:
latent virus; varicella vaccine; varicella zoster virus.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Chickenpox / prevention & control*
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Chickenpox Vaccine / administration & dosage
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Chickenpox Vaccine / adverse effects
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Chickenpox Vaccine / immunology*
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Chickenpox Vaccine / isolation & purification
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Drug Approval
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Herpes Zoster / epidemiology*
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Herpes Zoster / prevention & control*
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Herpes Zoster Vaccine / administration & dosage
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Herpes Zoster Vaccine / adverse effects
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Herpes Zoster Vaccine / immunology*
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Herpes Zoster Vaccine / isolation & purification
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Herpesvirus 3, Human / immunology*
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Humans
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United States / epidemiology
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Vaccines, Attenuated / administration & dosage
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Vaccines, Attenuated / immunology
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Vaccines, Attenuated / isolation & purification
Substances
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Chickenpox Vaccine
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Herpes Zoster Vaccine
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Vaccines, Attenuated