VaccinesNot Just for Kids

Miriam KlassenActing Medical Officer of Health

Perth District Health Unit

No conflict of interest

Vaccines: Not Just for Kids

Overview Introduction Routine vaccinations for all adults/seniors Special circumstances Herpes Zoster Vaccine

Introduction: Why immunize?

Some adults were not immunized as children

Immunity sometimes fades Newer vaccines available Increased susceptibility to some

infectious disease

Routine vaccinations Diptheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles

(excluding those born before 1970), mumps (excluding those born before 1970), rubella (women of child bearing age), varicella (if no history varicella)

Tetanus: Td q 10 yrs Influenza: annually Pneumococcus: once, consider repeat

once after 5 years for high risk people who received first dose at 10 yrs of age or older

Routine vaccinations

Canadian Immunization Guide: Seventh Edition

Special circumstances Travel: - influenza, pneumococcus, cholera, JE, typhoid,

yellow fever, rabies, meningococcus Rabies exposure: - Alberta 2007: 73 year old male died of rabies - Aug 2006 -bitten by bat bite shoulder -he killed

and disposed of bat - developed shoulder pain in Feb 2007, which

progressed, and was eventually admitted with weakness and anorexia and dysphagia

Special circumstances Health care workers/high risk lifestyles:

hepatitis B Immunocompromised: depends on

condition but may include: meningooccus, pneumococcus, varicella,

hepatitis A +B, influenza, HIB

Herpes Zoster In 2005, by age 15, 95% of Canadians had

chicken pox (infection with wild-type herpes varicella-zoster virus)

~ 130,000 cases HZ/year Data from 1979 -1997 rates of HZ:

64/100,000 age 0-4 years to 812/100,000 age 65 years +

Risk of herpes zoster increases with age Average length of hospital stay in those age

≥ 65 years is 20 days Epidemiology is changing due to varicella

vaccine introduced as part of routine childhood vaccines

Herpes Zoster 40% of patients with shingles who do not

take antivirals, and 20% of those who do will have post-herpetic neuralgia at 6 months post diagnosis (Weir, 2005)

15% of HZ episodes result in PHN, double in those > 65 (MEN, 2008)

30 -35% of those correctly diagnosed and treated have persistent pain, and one half of those will develop PHN despite antidepressants, anticonvulsants and opioids

(MEN, 2008)Bottom line is that morbidity is significant

Herpes Zoster Varicella vaccine may paradoxically increase the

risk of herpes zoster among older generations who have had natural varicella

Research suggests that intermittant exposure to varicella boosts cell-mediated immunity and protects against zoster

Also increased proportion of people who are immuno-compromised

HZ Vaccine Research Boosts cell-mediated immunity At least 14X as potent as vaccines to prevent varicella Shingles Prevention Study: large double blinded RCT (>

38,500 participants) - After median follow-up of 3 years, incidence of shingles

reduced by 51% (5.4 vs 11.1 cases/1000, 95% CI 44% - 58%)

- cumulative incidence of zoster in vaccine recipients reduced significantly (p < 0.001)

- Of those who did develop shingles, those in the vaccine group reported 61% less burden of disease (less pain and discomfort) CI: 51% - 69%

- Vaccine group had significantly greater risk of adverse events during first 42 days (1.9 vs 1.3%) and more adverse events at vaccine site (48.3% vs 16.6%) than placebo

HZ Vaccine Research Excluded immunocompromised, anyone with history of HZ,

those with cognitive impairment, severe hearing loss, non-ambulatory and those not expected to survive 5 years

Age ≥ 60 (average age 69) followed 31 days to 4.9 years (median 3.1 yrs)

Pain severity measured on ZBPI (Zoster Brief Pain Inventory)

Both vaccine and placebo group were treated if HZ developed

Diagnosis of HZ: clinical, PCR, culture• More recent findings: efficacy maintained for 7 years (40%

against HZ and 58% against PHN), no increased risk of serious AVR, and at least as efficacious in those aged 50 -59 years

HZ vaccine (Zostavax) Live attenuated virus (produced on human diploid cells),

gelatin, neomycin, sucrose, sodium chloride, monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate, sodium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium chloride, residuals (MRC-5 cells, bovine calf serum)

Storage requirements: freeze vaccine at average temperature of -15 °C (diluent stored at room temp or in fridge)

Reconstitute at room temperature and use immediately (within 30 min)

Local reaction: erythema, pain, swelling, warmth, bruising Systemic reactions; headache, fever, allergic reactions Contraindications: hypersensitivity to any component,

anaphylactoid reaction to neomycin (not contact), immunocompromised, pregnancy, TB

subQ (~ 0.65 ml)

HZ vaccine It can be given in patients with unknown chickenpox

history: all seronegative patients tested seroconverted in one large study

Can be given with other inactivated vaccines except pneumococcus

Immunocompromised clearly includes: lymphoproliferative malignancies, chemo-toxic or radiation therapy, organ transplant patients and HIV-infected patients: may be a concern in those receiving > 2 mg/kg of body weight or 20 mg/day of prednisone or equivilent

If someone in the household is immuno-compromised -consider serology

HZ Vaccine Guidelines from CMPA: - HZ vaccine would be come standard of care

for those ≥60 -physicians should inform patients and

document CDC recommended for those ≥ 60 years

(regardless of history of HZ or chicken pox) Do not give with 23-valent pneumoccocal

vaccine as pneumococcal vaccine (although not influenza) attenuates response to HZ vaccine

$175 - 195/shot

HZ vaccine Licensed by US FDA in December 2005 FDA approval May 2006 Recommended for those ≥ 60 years in 2007 by

CDC Approved in Canada by HC in August, 2008 Became available in Canada September 22, 2009 NACI statement pending

HZ vaccine

References CDC. (modified 2009). Vaccine Preventable Adult Diseases.

Author Harpaz, R. et al.. (2008). Prevention of herpes zoster.

Recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP) MMWR. CDC

Medical Education Network (MEN). (2008). Maintained efficacy of herpes zoster vaccine: Corroborative Evidence. 8th Canadian Immunization Conference

Oxman, M. et al.. (2005). A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in older adults. NEJM.

PHAC. (2006) Canadian Immunization Guide. Author. Vaccine Resource Line. (2008). Clarifying the use of the

herpes zoster vaccine. Author. Weir, E. (2005). Vaccination boosts adult immunity to varicella

zoster virus. CMAJ