Can children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive the vaccine?
Yes, vaccine is available to any physician free of charge from the manufacturer through a research protocol for use in patients who have ALL who • are 12 months-17 years of age; • have disease that has been in remission for at least 12 continuous months; • have a negative history of varicella disease; • have a peripheral blood-lymphocyte count of >700 cells/mm3; and • have a platelet count of >100,000 cells/mm3 within 24 hours of vaccination. The vaccine is well tolerated, immunogenic, and protective in children who meet these criteria. The most common reaction to the vaccine for ALL patients is a mild to moderate varicella-like rash (i.e., two to 200 lesions), which occurs in approximately 5% of children who have completed their chemotherapy before vaccination and 40% of vaccinees on maintenance chemotherapy. Children with ALL should receive two doses of the vaccine, 3 months apart. For more information about this protocol, contact Judy Birchler at (484) 679-2680 in Omnicare Clinical
