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Objective We aimed to measure provider perspectives on the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of teleneonatology in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and community hospitals. Study Design Providers from five academic tertiary NICUs and 27 community hospitals were surveyed using validated implementation measures to assess the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of teleneonatology. For each of the 12 statements, scale values ranged from 1 to 5 (1 = strongly disagree; 5 = strongly agree), with higher scores indicating greater positive perceptions. Survey results were summarized, and differences across respondents assessed using generalized linear models. Results The survey response rate was 56% (203/365). Respondents found teleneonatology to be acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. The percent of respondents who agreed with each of the twelve statements ranged from 88.6 to 99.0%, with mean scores of 4.4 to 4.7 and median scores of 4.0 to 5.0. There was no difference in the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of teleneonatology when analyzed by professional role, years of experience in neonatal care, or years of teleneonatology experience. Respondents from Level I well newborn nurseries had greater positive perceptions of teleneonatology than those from Level II special care nurseries. Conclusion Providers in tertiary NICUs and community hospitals perceive teleneonatology to be highly acceptable, appropriate, and feasible for their practices. The wide acceptance by providers of all roles and levels of experience likely demonstrates a broad receptiveness to telemedicine as a tool to deliver neonatal care, particularly in rural communities where specialists are unavailable. Key Points Neonatal care providers perceive teleneonatology to be highly acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. Perceptions of teleneonatology do not differ based on professional role or years of experience. Perceptions of teleneonatology are especially high in smaller hospitals with well newborn nurseries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2008, the recommendations for vaccines in children and adolescents changed substantially. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices expanded the routine use of Influenza vaccines. New recommendations also addressed the newly licensed rotavirus vaccine. Furthermore, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices addressed the use of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine in children aged 2 to 10 years who are at high risk of that disease. Finally, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed the safety data collected about the human papilloma-virus vaccine since its Iicensure and reaffirmed their recommendations for its use. This article discusses some of the important changes that should be of concern to the practitioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although influenza vaccine can prevent influenza virus infection, the only therapeutic options to treat influenza virus infection are antiviral agents. At the current time, nearly all influenza A/H3N2 viruses and a percentage of influenza A/H1N1 viruses are adamantane resistant, which leaves only neuraminidase inhibitors available for treatment of infection with these viruses. In December 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new data demonstrating that a high percentage of circulating influenza A/H1N1 viruses are now resistant to oseltamivir. In addition, oseltamivir-resistant influenza B and A/H5N1 viruses have been identified. Thus, use of monotherapy for influenza virus infection is irrational and may contribute to mutational pressure for further selection of antiviral-resistant strains. History has demonstrated that monotherapy for influenza virus infection leads to resistance, resulting in the use of a new monotherapy agent followed by resistance to that new agent and thus resulting in a background of viruses resistant to both drugs. We argue that combination antiviral therapy, new guidelines for indications for treatment, point-of-care diagnostic testing, and a universal influenza vaccination recommendation are critical to protecting the population against influenza virus and to preserving the benefits of antiviral agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores efforts to collaborate aspects of pediatric research and its clinical applications. Joint conference during which scientists and pediatricians could share their experience on specific topics in pediatrics; Highlights of the OPBG/Mayo Conference.

The article relates the authors' perspective on influenza vaccination among health care workers in the U.S. They contends that the low rates of flu immunization among health care personnel pose a threat to public health, particularly to hospitalized patients already vulnerable to nosocomial infection. They argue that lower rates of influenza vaccination might result in increased absenteeism, which could compromise patient safety.

While exposure to adverse family experiences (AFEs), subset of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), has been associated with childhood obesity, less is known about the impact of exposures to each type of AFE. Using 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health data, we evaluated associations between exposure to individual AFEs and overweight/obesity status in children 10years or older, adjusting for socio-demographic factors. Caregivers reported their child's height, weight, and exposure to nine AFEs; body mass index (BMI) was classified by Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) guidelines. At Mayo Clinic, we calculated frequencies and weighted estimates of socio-demographic factors and AFEs. Unadjusted and adjusted weighted multinomial logistic regression models were employed to assess the independent associations of each AFE and the different AFE composite scores with BMI category. Exposure to two or more AFEs was independently associated with increased odds of overweight (odds ratio [OR], 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13, 1.56) and obese (OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.21, 1.73) status after adjustment for age, household income, parents' education-level, race and sex. Death of parent (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.18, 2.15) and hardship due to family income (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.06, 1.50) were independently associated with obesity status with adjustment for other AFEs and socio-demographic factors. Our results suggest that, in addition to cumulative exposure to AFEs, exposure to certain childhood experiences are more strongly associated with childhood obesity than others. Death of parent and hardship due to family income are individual AFEs, which are strongly predictive of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effectiveness of influenza vaccine over multiple influenza seasons in children less than 5 years of age has not been well studied. This is especially important to assess because of the recent recommendation for routine influenza vaccination in childhood. We conducted a matched case–control study to assess the vaccine effectiveness of Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (TIV) against laboratory-confirmed, medically attended influenza among children 6–59 months of age at the start of each influenza season from 1999–2000 through 2006–2007 in Olmsted County, MN, USA. The children vaccinated against influenza accordingly to the 2007 ACIP guidelines had a lower risk of laboratory-confirmed medically attended influenza illness (Odds Ratio: 0.14, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.03–0.71) than the unvaccinated children. TIV provided strong protection against laboratory-confirmed medically attended influenza in children 6–59 months old in the fully vaccinated group. This trend continued in the partially vaccinated group (Odds Ratio: 0.27, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.07–0.97) but the protection provided maybe suboptimal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There are no data currently available on gender and racial variation in smallpox vaccine immune responses. We recruited 1076 healthy adults 18–40 years old who received one dose of the US-licensed smallpox vaccine (Dryvax®). Vaccinia neutralizing antibody titers in each subject''s serum were determined using a high throughput neutralization assay based on a recombinant, β-gal expressing vaccinia virus. Results are reported as the serum dilution inhibiting 50% of virus activity (ID50). The median ID50 for all subjects was 132.2 (inter-quartile range (IQR)=78.8, 205.6). While no significant differences were observed with race and ethnicity, females had significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers than males (158.5 [93.2, 255.8] vs. 124.1 [75.2, 185.9]; p <0.0001). As expected, time since vaccination was also associated with variations in neutralizing antibody titers in our subjects. These data indicate that neutralizing antibody titers following primary smallpox vaccination vary by gender. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the response to hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination and the risk of HBV infection in patients with celiac disease (CD)., Patients and Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2009-2014) to assess the rate of HBV vaccination, immune response, and HBV infection risk in patients with and without CD. We also determined the rate of HBV infection via retrospective analysis of two cohorts: patients seen at Mayo Clinic (1998-2021), and a stable longitudinally observed cohort, the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP; 2010-2020)., Results: Based on the NHANES data, the rate of HBV infection in the United States was 0.33% (95% confidence interval 0.25-0.41). Of 93 patients with CD, 46 (49%) were vaccinated for HBV and of the remaining 19,422 without CD, 10,228 (53%) were vaccinated. Twenty-two (48%) vaccinated patients with CD had HBV immunity and 4405 (43.07%) vaccinated patients without CD had HBV immunity, which was not statistically different. In NHANES data, there were no cases of HBV infection in patients with CD. During the study period, 3568 patients with CD were seen at Mayo Clinic and 3918 patients with CD were identified using the REP database. Of those patients with CD, only four (0.11%) at Mayo Clinic and nine (0.23%) of the REP patients had HBV infection., Conclusion: The rate of HBV vaccination and immunity was similar in individuals with and without CD. Predictably, no increased risk of HBV infection was detected in CD patients. These results do not support screening and revaccination practice for HBV immunity in patients with CD within the United States., Competing Interests: Dr Jacobson serves as a member of two safety review committees for post-licensure safety studies of human papillomavirus vaccines conducted by Merck & Co. and a member of an external data monitoring committee for a series of trials of a novel pneumococcal conjugate vaccine also conducted by Merck & Co. The other authors report no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 by European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition.)

The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that infants beginning at birth receive several vaccines directed against a variety of infectious diseases that currently pose threats of morbidity and mortality to infants and those around them, including the 3-dose hepatitis B (HepB) series. The first dose is due at birth. This series protects against maternal-infant transmission of the HepB virus and against exposure the rest of the infant's life. At age 2 months infants are to receive not only their second dose of HepB vaccine but also a series of vaccines directed against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, pneumococcus, rotavirus, poliovirus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. At 4 months, infants are to repeat those vaccines except for the HepB vaccine. At age 6 months infants are to finish the HepB series and receive the third doses of the other vaccines received at 2 and 4 months except for the rotavirus vaccine, depending on the brand used. Also, starting at 6 months, depending on the time of year, infants are to begin a 2-dose series against influenza separated by 28 days. Each of these vaccines is due at a time when the vaccine works to protect against an immediate risk and to provide long-term protection. These vaccine-preventable diseases vary in terms of the nature of exposure, the form of the morbidity, the risk of mortality, and the ability of routine vaccination to prevent or ameliorate harm., (Copyright © 2019 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Care coordination has been a common tool for practices seeking to manage complex patients, yet there remains confusion about the most effective and sustainable model. Research exists on opinions of providers of care coordination but there is limited information on perspectives of those in the insurance industry about key elements. We sought to gather opinions from primary care providers and administrators in Minnesota who were involved in a CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) transformational grant implementing COMPASS (Care Of Mental, Physical And Substance-use Syndromes), an evidence-based model of care coordination for depressed patients comorbid with diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease. We then sought to compare these views with those of private insurance representatives in Minnesota., Methods: We used qualitative methods to conducted forty-two key informant interviews with primary care providers (n = 15); administrators (n = 15); and insurers (n = 12). We analyzed the recorded and transcribed data, once de-identified, using a frameworks analysis approach., Results: We identified six primary themes: 1) a defined scope, rationale, and key partnerships for building comprehensive care coordination programs, 2) effective information exchange, 3) a trained and available workforce, 4) the need for a business model and a financially justifiable program, 5) a need for evaluation and ongoing improvement of care coordination, and 6) the importance of patient and family engagement. Overall consensus across stakeholder groups was high including a call for payment reform to support a valued service. Despite their role in paying for care, insurance representatives did not stress reduced utilization as more important than other outcomes., Conclusions: Primary care providers and administrators from different organizations and backgrounds, all with experience in COMPASS, in large part agreed with insurance representatives on the main elements of a sustainable model and the need for health reform to sustain this service.

Objectives: To characterize early adoption of a novel multitarget stool DNA (MT-sDNA) screening test for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and to test the hypothesis that adoption differs by demographic characteristics and prior CRC screening behavior and proceeds predictably over time., Patients and Methods: We used the Rochester Epidemiology Project research infrastructure to assess the use of the MT-sDNA screening test in adults aged 50 to 75 years living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, in 2014 and identified 27,147 individuals eligible or due for screening colonoscopy from November 1, 2014, through November 30, 2015. We used electronic Current Procedure Terminology and Health Care Common Procedure codes to evaluate early adoption of the MT-sDNA screening test in this population and to test whether early adoption varies by age, sex, race, and prior CRC screening behavior., Results: Overall, 2193 (8.1%) and 974 (3.6%) individuals were screened by colonoscopy and MT-sDNA, respectively. Age, sex, race, and prior CRC screening behavior were significantly and independently associated with MT-sDNA screening use compared with colonoscopy use after adjustment for all other variables (P<.05 for all). The rates of adoption of MT-sDNA screening increased over time and were highest in those aged 50 to 54 years, women, whites, and those who had a history of screening. The use of the MT-sDNA screening test varied predictably by insurance coverage. The rates of colonoscopy decreased over time, whereas overall CRC screening rates remained steady., Conclusion: The results of the present study are generally consistent with predictions derived from prior research and the diffusion of innovation framework, pointing to increasing use of the new screening test over time and early adoption by younger patients, women, whites, and those with prior CRC screening., (Copyright © 2017 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

National data on vaccine up-to-date (UTD) suggest that insufficient numbers of adolescents receive needed vaccines. This study analyzed public use data of the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen) from 2010 through 2013 for South Carolina (SC) adolescents and compared immunization rates to those of United States (US) adolescents. We also examined trends for each vaccine recommended for adolescents for both SC and US adolescents. UTD rates in SC adolescents for the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and the tetanus- diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine lag those of US adolescents, despite demonstrating a trend of improvement in SC adolescents from 45% to 69% for MCV and from 48% to 72% for Tdap. Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine UTD rates for SC adolescents demonstrated improvement over a 4 year period. HPV vaccination for SC girls improved when compared to the US, however UTD rates for both the SC and US were still well below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80%. For all three vaccines, parental recall for a provider recommendation to vaccinate their adolescent was around or below 50%, except for HPV in females where it reached 65% in SC and 69% in the US. Differences between state and national rates may help SC providers focus on specific interventions needed to improve UTD rates.

Background: Nearly 80 million people in the U.S. are currently infected with at least one of two strains of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is associated with 70% of cervical cancers. Greater cervical cancer mortality has been observed among women of lower SES and those living in rural, versus urban, areas. African American and Hispanic women are significantly more likely to die from cervical cancer than non-Hispanic white women., Purpose: To assess current population awareness of and knowledge about HPV and the HPV vaccine, as well as the contribution of sociodemographic characteristics to disparities in HPV awareness and knowledge., Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's 2013 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS; N=3,185). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to identify gaps in awareness and knowledge by sex, education, income, race/ethnicity, geographic area, and other important sociodemographic characteristics. Analyses were conducted in 2014., Results: Sixty-eight percent of Americans had heard of HPV and the HPV vaccine. Consistent with the Knowledge Gap Hypothesis, awareness and knowledge were patterned by sex, age, education, and other important sociodemographic factors. Those in rural areas were less likely than those in urban areas to know that HPV causes cervical cancer. Less than 5% of Americans were aware that HPV often clears on its own without treatment., Conclusions: Although awareness and knowledge of HPV is increasing, there are opportunities to target communication with populations for whom knowledge gaps currently exist, in order to promote dialogue about the vaccine among patients and their providers., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Nationally, uptake of adolescent vaccines is variable., Objective: To compare adolescent immunization rates and clinician recommendation for adolescent vaccines over time in Oklahoma with the U.S., Methods: We analyzed the 2010-2012 National Immunization Survey of Teens (NIS-Teen)., Results: MCV4 and Tdap are consistently lower in Oklahoma compared to the U.S. HPV rates have been comparable. Parents report that health care providers in Oklahoma are less likely to recommend adolescent vaccines compared to the national average. Intention to not receive HPV in the next 12 months is distressingly high both in Oklahoma and across the nation with both improving., Conclusion: Over the three years, Oklahoma's immunization rates consistently underperform national estimates for MCV4 and Tdap but not for HPV. We recommend Oklahoma health care providers improve their vaccination rates through making clear their vaccine recommendations to the parent and patient in the clinical encounter.

Cohen's kappa coefficient, which was introduced in 1960, serves as the most widely employed coefficient to assess inter-observer agreement for categorical outcomes. However, the original kappa can only be applied to cross-sectional binary measurements and, therefore, cannot be applied in the practical situation when the observers evaluate the same subjects at repeated time intervals. This study summarizes six methods of assessing agreement of repeated binary outcomes under different assumptions and discusses under which condition we should use the most appropriate method in practice. These approaches are illustrated using data from the CDC anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA) human clinical trial comparing the agreement for two solicited adverse events after AVA between the 1-3 day in-clinic medical record and the patient's diary on the same day. We hope this article can inspire researchers to choose the most appropriate method to assess agreement for their own study with longitudinal binary data.

Objective: To determine the reasons adolescents are not vaccinated for specific vaccines and how these reasons have changed over time., Methods: We analyzed the 2008-2010 National Immunization Survey of Teens examining reasons parents do not have their teens immunized. Parents whose teens were not up to date (Not-UTD) for Tdap/Td and MCV4 were asked the main reason they were not vaccinated. Parents of female teens Not-UTD for human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) were asked their intent to give HPV, and those unlikely to get HPV were asked the main reason why not., Results: The most frequent reasons for not vaccinating were the same for Tdap/Td and MCV4, including "Not recommended" and "Not needed or not necessary." For HPV, the most frequent reasons included those for the other vaccines as well as 4 others, including "Not sexually active" and "Safety concerns/Side effects." "Safety concerns/Side effects" increased from 4.5% in 2008 to 7.7% in 2009 to 16.4% in 2010 and, in 2010, approaching the most common reason "Not Needed or Not Necessary" at 17.4% (95% CI: 15.7-19.1). Although parents report that health care professionals increasingly recommend all vaccines, including HPV, the intent to not vaccinate for HPV increased from 39.8% in 2008 to 43.9% in 2010 (OR for trend 1.08, 95% CI: 1.04-1.13)., Conclusions: Despite doctors increasingly recommending adolescent vaccines, parents increasingly intend not to vaccinate female teens with HPV. The concern about safety of HPV grew with each year. Addressing specific and growing parental concerns about HPV will require different considerations than those for the other vaccines.

Background: After the Department of Defense implemented a mandatory anthrax vaccination program in 1998 concerns were raised about potential long-term safety effects of the current anthrax vaccine. The CDC multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed (AVA) Human Clinical Trial to evaluate route change and dose reduction collected data on participants' quality of life. Our objective is to assess the association between receipt of AVA and changes in health-related quality of life, as measured by the SF-36 health survey (Medical Outcomes Trust, Boston, MA), over 42 months after vaccination., Methods: 1562 trial participants completed SF-36v2 health surveys at 0, 12, 18, 30 and 42 months. Physical and mental summary scores were obtained from the survey results. We used Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analyses to assess the association between physical and mental score difference from baseline and seven study groups receiving either AVA at each dose, saline placebo at each dose, or a reduced AVA schedule substituting saline placebo for some doses., Results: Overall, mean physical and mental scores tended to decrease after baseline. However, we found no evidence that the score difference from baseline changed significantly differently between the seven study groups., Conclusions: These results do not favor an association between receipt of AVA and an altered health-related quality of life over a 42-month period., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Despite improvements in clinician education, symptom awareness, and respiratory precautions, influenza vaccination rates for health care workers have remained unacceptably low for more than three decades, adversely affecting patient safety. When public health is jeopardized, and a safe, low-cost, and effective method to achieve patient safety exists, health care organizations and public health authorities have a responsibility to take action and change the status quo. Mandatory influenza vaccination for health care workers is supported not only by scientific data but also by ethical principles and legal precedent. The recent influenza pandemic provides an opportunity for policymakers to reconsider the benefits of mandating influenza vaccination for health care workers, including building public trust, enhancing patient safety, and strengthening the health care workforce.

Delays in diagnosing asthma in children are common and are known to delay asthma-specific treatment. Few studies have investigated whether a delay in asthma diagnosis impacts the use of health care services. This study was designed to assess whether a delay in diagnosis of asthma influences the use of health care services. This was a retrospective cohort study with subjects elicited from a convenience sample of 839 healthy children. The criteria for asthma was met in 276 (33%) subjects; of these subjects 179 (65%) had a delay in the diagnosis of asthma and 97 (35%) had a timely diagnosis. Data on health care services (e.g., flu shot, availability of a peak flow meter, hospitalizations, and urgent care or emergency department visits) and the frequency of systemic steroid treatments were collected from medical records during the first 18 years of life. The frequencies of health service and use of systemic steroids were compared using Poisson and logistic regression models in asthmatic children with and without a delay in asthma diagnosis. Children with a delay in asthma diagnosis were more likely to visit urgent care centers at least once (40.8% versus 21.6%; p < 0.001), compared with those with a timely diagnosis. There were no significant differences in other health care service or systemic steroid use. A delay in the diagnosis of asthma was associated with an increase in urgent care visits suggesting suboptimal care. Clinicians should be aware that a delay in the diagnosis of asthma in children may result in the use of suboptimal health care services.

Influenza is an important contributor to population and individual morbidity and mortality. The current influenza pandemic with novel H1N1 has highlighted the need for health care professionals to better understand the processes involved in creating influenza vaccines, both for pandemic as well as for seasonal influenza. This review presents an overview of influenza-related topics to help meet this need and includes a discussion of the burden of disease, virology, epidemiology, viral surveillance, and vaccine strain selection. We then present an overview of influenza vaccine-related topics, including vaccine production, vaccine efficacy and effectiveness, influenza vaccine misperceptions, and populations that are recommended to receive vaccination. English-language articles in PubMed published between January 1, 1970, and October 7, 2009, were searched using key words human influenza, influenza vaccines, influenza A, and influenza B.

In this paper we outline the seven primary truths supporting the call for requiring influenza immunization of all health care workers. We view this as a serious patient safety issue, given the clear and compelling data regarding the frequency and severity of influenza infection. In addition, clear-cut safety, efficacy, economic, legal, and ethical platforms support the use of influenza vaccine. Unfortunately health care workers have demonstrated, over almost 25 years that they are unwilling to comply with voluntary influenza immunization programs utilizing a variety of education and incentive programs, at rates sufficient to protect the patients in their care. We suggest that an annual influenza immunization should be required for every health care worker with direct patient contact, unless a medical contraindication or religious objection exists, or an informed declination is signed by the health care worker. High rates of health care worker immunization will benefit patients, health care workers, their families and employers, and the communities within which they work and live.

Rates of reported adverse events are remarkably low. VAERS identifies an adverse event rate approximating 11.4 reports per 100,000 vaccine doses. Approximately 15% of these reports represent SAEs, but less than 2% involve death; in most cases, reviews have shown no causal relation between the events and the vaccine. Across the spectrum of vaccines in use (including those directed against influenza and hepatitis B virus), many claims of adverse events regarding vaccines represent typical reactions to vaccinations. These reactions can be thought of as foreign-body reactions and predominate among the inactivated vaccines. In controlled studies, the adverse event rates that occur with vaccination resemble those that occur with placebo injections. Typical reactions associated with live viral and bacterial vaccines, such as MMR and varicella vaccines, may resemble attenuated forms of the disease for which the vaccine is directed. Other claims against vaccines represent chance-coincidence or misunderstood data; further studies of claims have vindicated the overall safety of the vaccines in most cases. Two documented safety concerns with vaccines, however, have demonstrated that vaccines (like other biologics and pharmacologic) can result in harm (eg, rotavirus and OPV vaccines). The denouement with these vaccines indicates the broad postmarketing data collection and evaluation that extends efforts made with prelicensure study to balance the benefits from vaccination with the risk for harm. Overall, measures including prelicensure study and postlicensure surveillance, such as VAERS, the Vaccine Safety Datalink Project, and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Centers, have resulted in an exceptional safety profile for the vaccines in use.

Objective: Anaphylaxis after immunization, although rare, is serious and potentially life-threatening. Understanding risk factors for this reaction is therefore important. Gelatin is added to many vaccines as a heat stabilizer. Japanese researchers have demonstrated a strong association between immediate hypersensitivity reactions to measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and Japanese encephalitis immunizations and subsequent detection of anti-gelatin immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. They suggested that previous receipt by these patients of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines with trace amounts of gelatin was responsible for the sensitization. We aimed to assess whether a similar association exists for vaccinees in the United States who reported anaphylaxis after receipt of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or measles vaccines and to review recent trends in reporting of hypersensitivity reactions., Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study. Cases of anaphylaxis that met a predefined case definition were identified from the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Mayo Clinic patients who received MMR vaccine uneventfully served as controls. The study subjects were interviewed to obtain the history of allergies. Sera from study subjects and their matched controls were tested for IgE antibodies to gelatin, whole egg, and vaccine viral antigens using solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Data from the Biologics Surveillance System on annual numbers of doses of MMR and varicella vaccines distributed in the United States were used to evaluate possible changes in reporting of selected allergic adverse events., Results: Fifty-seven study subjects were recruited into the study and interviewed. Of these, 22 provided serum samples for IgE testing. Twenty-seven subjects served as a comparison group and provided a sample for IgE testing; 21 of these completed an allergy history questionnaire. Self-reported history of food allergies was present more frequently in the interviewed study subjects than in the controls, whereas the proportions of people with other characteristics were similar in both groups. None of the interviewed people had a history of food allergy to gelatin. The level of anti-gelatin IgE antibodies was significantly higher among study subjects than among controls, whereas the levels of IgE antibodies against egg and all 3 viral antigens did not differ significantly. Of 22 study subjects, 6 (27%) tested positive for anti-gelatin IgE, whereas none of the 27 controls did. The rate of anaphylactic reactions reported to VAERS after measles virus-containing immunization in the United States between 1991 and 1997 is 1.8 per 1 million doses distributed. No substantial increase in the number of reported allergic events after frequently used gelatin containing MMR and varicella vaccines could be observed during the first 4 years (1997-2000) since the introduction of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccines for use in infancy., Conclusion: Anaphylactic reactions to MMR in the United States are rare. The reporting rate has the same order of magnitude as estimates from other countries. Almost one fourth of patients with reported anaphylaxis after MMR seem to have hypersensitivity to gelatin in the vaccine. They may be at higher risk of developing anaphylaxis to subsequent doses of other gelatin-containing vaccines. These people should seek an allergy evaluation before such immunization.

Objective: To examine the effect of differing age-at-immunization policies on measles antibody levels in US children immunized at the age of 15 months compared with Canadian children immunized at the age of 12 months., Subjects and Methods: Healthy, volunteer US and Canadian children aged 6 to 11 years who had been immunized with a single dose of the measles vaccine were enrolled from 1991 to 1993. Measles antibody was measured with a whole-virus, measles-specific IgG enzyme-linked immunoassay. Age, race, sex, country of residence, general health status, age at time of measles immunization, and time from immunization to sampling were recorded., Results: Of the 1052 children enrolled in the study, US children (n=719) had a significantly higher measles seroprevalence (87%) compared with Canadian children (n=333) (76%; P<.001). After adjustment for time from immunization and age at immunization, the differences in seropositive rates were no longer significant (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.87-2.69; P=.15). We found a significant dose-response relationship between age at the time of immunization and the odds of being seropositive after immunization, with ORs varying from 1 with immunization at 13 months or younger to 2.30 with immunization at 16 months of age (P=.01)., Conclusions: The current US policy of immunizing with the first dose of measles at the age of 12 months may be less effective than a policy of immunizing at 12 to 15 months of age. These findings may be highly significant as we move toward an era in which measles exposure may be rare and policies are developed to eradicate measles.