Varicella vaccination in pediatric kidney transplant candidates

Existing studies support the use of varicella vaccine in a two-dose regimen in patients with renal disease prior to transplantation. Levels of anti-varicella zoster virus antibody should be monitored on a regular basis after immunization, and where a loss of a previously protective antibody titer occurs, a third booster dose should be considered pretransplant. Further data need to be collected regarding the use of the vaccine in seronegative patients who have already undergone transplantation.