Varilrix Vaccination in Kolkata

Varilrix – GSK

Indication and Usage –

• Varilrix is indicated for active immunisation against varicella of healthy subjects from the age of 9 months onwards.
• Vaccination of susceptible healthy close contacts of subjects at risk of severe varicella is recommended, in order to reduce the risk of transmission of wild-type virus to these patients.
• Close contacts include parents and siblings of high-risk patients, and medical and paramedical personnel.

Dosage and Administration –

• Varilrix is for subcutaneous use only.
• Children 9 months up to and including 12 years of age

1. Children from the age of 9 months up to and including 12 years of age should receive 2 doses of Varilrix™ to ensure optimal protection against varicella.
2. It is preferable to administer the second dose at least 6 weeks after the first dose but in no circumstances less than 4 weeks.

• Adolescents and adults from 13 years of age and above

1. From 13 years of age and above: 2 doses.

It is preferable to administer the second dose at least 6 weeks after the first dose but in no circumstances less than 4 weeks.

Contraindications –

• As with other vaccines, the administration of Varilrix should be postponed in subjects suffering from acute severe febrile illness. In healthy subjects the presence of a minor infection, however, is not a contra-indication for immunisation.
• Varilrix is contra-indicated in subjects with primary or acquired immunodeficiency states with a total lymphocyte count less than 1,200 per mm3 or presenting other evidence of lack of cellular immune competence, such as subjects with leukaemia’s, lymphomas, blood dyscrasias, clinically manifest HIV infection, or patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy (including high dose corticosteroids).
• Varilrix is contra-indicated in subjects with known systemic hypersensitivity to neomycin, but a history of contact dermatitis to neomycin is not a contra-indication.
• Varilrix is contra-indicated during pregnancy. Furthermore, pregnancy should be avoided for three months after vaccination.

Adverse reactions –

• A trend for higher incidence of pain, redness and swelling after the second dose was observed as compared to the first dose.
• Swelling at the injection site and fever were reported very commonly in studies conducted in adolescents and adults. Swelling was also reported very commonly after the second dose in children under 13 years of age.

Drug interactions and other interactions –

• Varilrix should not be administered at the same time as other live attenuated vaccines. Inactivated vaccines may be administered in any temporal relationship to Varilrix, given that no specific contra-indication has been established.
• Different injectable vaccines should always be administered at different injection sites.
• In subjects who have received immune globulins or a blood transfusion, immunisation should be delayed for at least three months because of the likelihood of vaccine failure due to passively acquired varicella antibodies.

Salicylates should be avoided for 6 weeks after varicella vaccination as Reye’s syndrome has been reported following the use of salicylates during natural varicella infection.