Seroprevalence of Varicella in Pregnant Women and Newborns in a Region of Colombia

Abstract

We estimate the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to varicella zoster virus (VZV) based on the first serological study in a cohort of pregnant women and newborns from the Aburrá Valley (Antioquia-Colombia) who attended delivery in eight randomly chosen hospitals. An indirect enzyme immunoassay was used to determine anti-VZV IgG antibodies. Generalized linear models were constructed to identify variables that modify seropositivity. In pregnant women, seropositivity was 85.8% (95% CI: 83.4–85.9), seronegativity was 12.6% (95% CI: 10.8–14.6), and concordance with umbilical cord titers was 90.0% (95% CI: 89–91). The seropositivity of pregnant women was lower in those who lived in rural areas (IRR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.7), belonged to the high socioeconomic status (IRR: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.7), and had studied 11 years or more (IRR: 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4–0.8). Among newborns, seropositivity was lower in those who weighed less than 3000 g (IRR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6–1.0). The high seropositivity and seronegativity pattern indicates the urgent need to design preconception consultation and vaccination reinforcement for women of childbearing age according to their sociodemographic conditions, to prevent infection and complications in the mother and newborn.

Epidemiological Characteristics of Varicella under Different Immunisation Strategies in Suzhou Prefecture, Jiangsu Province

“…There are three rational hypotheses for this anomaly: first, the varicella vaccination rate for children aged 1 to 6 years increased significantly after the inclusion of varicella vaccination into the local EPI, potentially reducing the natural immunisation of children aged 0–1 years. Second, the declined varicella incidence across the whole population can cause a decreased level of varicella antibodies in mothers, which increases the susceptibility of children aged 0–1 years [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Finally, the level of diagnosis of varicella cases in medical institutions and reporting rates increased, perhaps more realistically representing the actual incidence data.…”

First Year of Special Issue “New Insights in Vaccination and Public Health”: Opinions and Considerations

“…The role of ICTs was examined in relation to their influence on health choices [ 21 , 23 , 30 ] and in relation to the use of new technologies in the field of vaccinology [ 19 ]. Other topics, such as sex and gender differences in the response to the COVID-19 vaccine [ 16 ], serum prevalence surveys for varicella in pregnant women [ 18 ], mRNA COVID-19 vaccine reactogenicity among HCWs [ 22 ], the use of quantitative indicators in order to identify vaccine candidates [ 24 ], knowledge and behaviour regarding HPV infection and adherence to vaccine programs offered to adolescents [ 29 ], and the adoption of context-specific vaccine policies [ 32 ], were also addressed in this Special Issue.…”