In Reply : Varicella Vaccine and Susceptible Pregnant Mothers

Dr Kan raises the important issue of potential vaccine transmission from a healthy child vaccinee to its varicella susceptible pregnant mother. He noted the discordance between the precaution contained in the varicella vaccine package insert, and the lack of one in the statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (and also one forthcoming form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice). Although Dr Kan notes the 17% transmission rate from leukemic children, this is not pertinent to transmission from immunologically normal individuals.