• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.229-234
• /
• 2006

Varicella, which is mostly a benign disease, but also can cause considerable health burden in the community, can be prevented by immunization with live attenuated varicella vaccine. Higher uptake of varicella vaccine by universal immunization in North America has apparently been associated with decline in the number of reported cases of varicella, varicella-related hospitalizations, and the number of deaths caused by complications of varicella. On the contrary, there has been some reluctance in endorsing varicella vaccine for universal immunization in most of European countries. Concerns include unanticipated outbreaks of varicella among vaccine recipients, risk of varicella among unvaccinated adults, risk of herpes zoster among vaccinees as well as unvaccinees. Recently developed measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella combination vaccine and herpes zoster vaccine that may be licensed in the upcoming years may be the solution for varicella vaccine to be utilized in a greater scale. In Korea several varicella vaccine products have been utilized since late 1980. The adoption of varicella vaccine for universal immunization since 2005 along with the changing view in varicella prevention strategy mandates more studies for immunogenecity and efficacy of varicella vaccines as well as more surveillance to delineate the changes in epidemiology of varicella in Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.12-19
• /
• 2008

Varicella is a highly infectious disease caused by the varicella zoster virus. The varicella vaccine was developed by Michiaki Takahashi in Japan in 1974. Despite the worldwide distribution of efficient vaccines, varicella vaccination policy is extremely variable from country to country. Although varicella vaccine is not currently recommended for universal vaccination in Japan, most countries throughout Europe, and developing countries, it had been introduced into Korea in 1988 and 20 years have elapsed since its use. Currently, varicella vaccine has been most extensively used in the United States where routine 2-dose vaccination program has been recently implemented for children. Recent 2-dose schedule in the United States and the availability of combination measles-rubella-varicella vaccines may lead to future varicella vaccination policy changes in many countries. With this background, this article summarizes the current status of varicella vaccination policies worldwide and presents provisional updated recommendation of varicella vaccination in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.6481-6484
• /
• 2012

Background: In 2008, the Health Authority in Abu Dhabi (the capital of the United Arab Emirates) introduced HPV vaccine free of charge for high school girls entering grade 11, becoming the first state in the Middle East to do so. The objectives of this study were to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of school nurses in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi about HPV infection and the vaccine. Materials and Methods: A quantitative study was designed and conducted from June to August 2012 in Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Data were collected through direct face to face interviews. from one hundred and twenty five nurses. Results: Knowledge of HPV infection and HPV vaccine was almost universal among the school nurses (97%). The majority of the participants (71%) thought that the HPV vaccine was good. Cultural unacceptability (45%) and lack of women's concern about their own health (21%) were rated as the top barriers for the successful introduction of the vaccine in the UAE. More than half of the sampled nurses (58%) have either given this vaccine to school girls or taken it themselves. The majority (95%) did not come across any side effects from the vaccine. The level of qualification and the place of work did not significantly affect the correct knowledge of HPV infection or cervical cancer prevention methods. Conclusions: The knowledge and attitude of the sampled school nurses in Abu Dhabi State about HPV infection and vaccine is very good in both the public and private sectors. However, a knowledge gap in cervical cancer screening methods was identified.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.304-316
• /
• 2021

Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infections. However, conventional vaccines based on hemagglutinin (HA) have to be annually updated because the HA of influenza viruses constantly mutates. In this study, we produced a 3M2e-3HA2-NP chimeric protein as a vaccine antigen candidate using an Escherichia coli expression system. The vaccination of chimeric protein (15 ㎍) conferred complete protection against A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1; PR8) in mice. It strongly induced influenza virus-specific antibody responses, cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. To spare the dose and enhance the cross-reactivity of the chimeric, we used a complex of poly-γ-glutamic acid and alum (PGA/alum) as an adjuvant. PGA/alum-adjuvanted, low-dose chimeric protein (1 or 5 ㎍) exhibited higher cross-protective effects against influenza A viruses (PR8, CA04, and H3N2) compared with those of chimeric alone or alum-adjuvanted proteins in vaccinated mice. Moreover, the depletion of CD4+ T, CD8+ T, and NK cells reduced the survival rate and efficacy of the PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein. Collectively, the vaccination of PGA/alum-adjuvanted chimeric protein induced strong protection efficacy against homologous and heterologous influenza viruses in mice, which suggests that it may be a promising universal influenza vaccine candidate.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.56 no.2
• /
• pp.172-179
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Vaccination is an important intervention for preventing disease and reducing disease severity. Universal vaccination programs have significantly reduced the incidence of many dangerous diseases among children worldwide. This study investigated the side effects after immunization in infants under 1 year of age in Lorestan Province, western Iran. Methods: This descriptive analytical study included data from all children <1 year old in Lorestan Province, Iran who were vaccinated according to the national schedule in 2020 and had an adverse event following immunization (AEFI). Data were extracted from 1084 forms on age, sex, birth weight, type of birth, AEFI type, vaccine type, and time of vaccination. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage) were calculated, and the chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used to assess differences in AEFIs according to the abovelisted variables. Results: The most frequent AEFIs were high fever (n=386, 35.6%), mild local reaction (n=341, 31.5%), and swelling and pain (n=121, 11.2%). The least common AEFIs were encephalitis (n=1, 0.1%), convulsion (n=2, 0.2%), and nodules (n=3, 0.3%). Girls and boys only showed significant differences in mild local reactions (p=0.044) and skin allergies (p=0.002). The incidence of lymphadenitis (p<0.001), severe local reaction (p<0.001), mild local reaction (p=0.007), fainting (p=0.032), swelling and pain (p=0.006), high fever (p=0.005), and nodules (p<0.001) showed significant differences based on age at vaccination. Conclusions: Immunization is a fundamental public health policy for controlling vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. Although vaccines such as the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, oral poliovirus vaccine, and pentavalent vaccine are well-researched and reliable, AEFIs are inevitable.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.65 no.3
• /
• pp.108-114
• /
• 2022

The Japanese encephalitis (JE) virus is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable encephalitis in Asia. Since the introduction of a universal JE vaccination program and urbanization of Korea, the incidence of JE has dramatically decreased in Korea. However, recent JE cases have occurred, predominantly among unvaccinated adults and with a shift in age distribution. Here we aimed to review the changes in age-specific JE seroprevalence over time and discuss the implications of JE vaccination programs in Korea. Following the last epidemic in 1982-1983, mandatory vaccination for all children aged 3-15 years was conducted annually until 1994. However, JE has reemerged, predominantly affecting unvaccinated adults aged 40 years or older and demonstrating a shift in age distribution toward older populations. The age-specific seroprevalence of the JE virus in Korea has changed noticeably over time. Seropositivity in children and adolescents increased from 10%-59% in the 1970s to 90%-92% in the 1980s after the implementation of the JE vaccination program and increased further to 98% in 2012. No age-specific difference in the seroprevalence of JE was found, and appropriate levels of immunity to JE were maintained for all age groups. Continuous surveillance of the seroprevalence of JE is essential to establish a proper immunization policy in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.51 no.7
• /
• pp.696-703
• /
• 2008

Korea is now classified as an area of intermediate endemicity for hepatitis B virus (HBV), due to the implementation of universal HBV vaccination and national preventive programs for HBV infection. A national program of HBV vaccination was launched in Korea in 1988 for school-going children and was listed on a vaccination guideline in 1991. In 1995, universal vaccination for newborn infants was started for the prevention of perinatal HBV transmission. The prevalence of HBsAg among Korean middle school students has shown marked decreased from 3.2% in the late 1990s to 0.44% in 2007. HBsAg positivity in preschool children was 0.9% in 1995, decreased to 0.2% in 2007 by national prevention program of hepatitis B vertical transmission, launched in 2002. Vaccine failure rate of HBV immunoprophylaxis is 4.2% by this program. The infected children should be monitored per 6-12 months interval. Lamivudine and interferon are approved therapies for children with chronic hepatitis B in immune-clearance phase in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.375-390
• /
• 2022

Influenza viruses are zoonotic respiratory pathogens, and influenza infections have caused a substantial burden on public health systems and the livestock industry. Although currently approved seasonal influenza vaccines have shown potent protection efficacy against antigenically well-matched strains, there are considerable unmet needs for the efficient control of viral infections. Enormous efforts have been made to develop broadly protective universal influenza vaccines to tackle the huge levels of genetic diversity and variability of influenza viruses. In addition, antiviral drugs have been considered important interventions for the treatment of viral infections. The viral neuraminidase inhibitor oseltamivir is the most widely used antiviral medication to treat influenza A and influenza B viruses. However, unsatisfactory clinical outcomes resulting from side effects and the emergence of resistant variants have led to greater attention being paid to plants as a natural resource for anti-influenza drugs. In particular, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has underpinned the need for safe and effective antiviral drugs with a broad spectrum of antiviral activity to prevent the rapid spread of viruses among humans. This review outlines the results of the antiviral activities of various natural products isolated from plants against influenza viruses. Special focus is paid to the virucidal effects and the immune-enhancing effects of antiviral natural products, since the products have broad applications as inactivating agents for the preparation of inactivated vaccines and vaccine adjuvants.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.52 no.2
• /
• pp.89-97
• /
• 2012

Mycobacterial cell-wall skeleton (CWS) is an immunoactive and biodegradable particulate adjuvant and has been tried to use for immunotherapy. The CWS of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG-CWS) was studied as an universal vaccine vehicle for antigen conjugation, to develop potentially effective and safe vaccine. Although a variety of biological activities of BCG-CWS have been studied, the effects of BCG-CWS on spleen cells are not fully elucidated. Using MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion test, we found that BCG-CWS significantly enhanced the viability and proliferation of cells. Multiple clusters, indicating proliferation, were observed in BCG-CWS-treated spleen cells and surface marker staining assay revealed that BCG-CWS promoted the proliferation of $CD19^+$ B lymphocyte rather than $CD4^+$ or $CD8^+$ T lymphocyte. In addition, BCG-CWS up-regulated the expression of anti-apoptotic molecules such as bcl-2, bcl-xL. BCG-CWS increased the surface expression of CD25 and CD69 as well as IL-2 production of spleen cells, suggesting increased activation. Furthermore, BCG-CWS enhanced the antigen-specific cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production of spleen cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate the immunostimulatory effects of BCG-CWS on spleen cells via multiple mechanisms, providing valuable information to broaden the use of BCG-CWS in clinical and research settings.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.115-123
• /
• 2006

Purpose : We investigated whether there had been any change in the epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Korea before and after introduction of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine(PCV7). Methods : Between September 2001 and August 2006, clinical isolates were collected from patients with pneumococcal infection in Severance Hospital, Seoul, Korea. We analyzed trends in serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance before and after the introduction of PCV7. Results : There were 363 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from clinical specimens; 143 before and 220 after PCV7 introduction. The predominant serotypes, in order of decreasing frequency, were 19F, 19A, 23F, 6B, 6A, 3, 9V, 14, 11A, 4, 29, and 18C; 152 isolates(41.9%) belonged to types included in PCV7. The proportion of clinical isolates that were nonsusceptible to penicillin increased from 58.8% in 2001 to 83.6% in 2006(P=0.046). There was no significant diminution in pneumococcal infection caused by vaccine serotypes after the introduction of PCV7. In children younger than age 2 years, the proportion of clinical isolates that were vaccine serotypes was higher than in persons older than age 15 years (59.3% vs 37.8%, P=0.004). Conclusions : There was no significant diminution in pneumococcal infection caused by vaccine serotypes after the introduction of PCV7, therefore more universal pneumococcal immunization program is recommended especially for children younger than age 2 years.