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- Cohort profile: Korean Varicella Immunization Monitoring (K-VIM) Scheme: a national cohort of children born 2011–2022
- Young Kyu Shim, Young Hwa Lee, Young June Choe, Yoonsun Yoon, Yun-Kyung Kim
- Epidemiol Health. 2026;48:e2026005. Published online January 22, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2026005
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Abstract
Summary
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AbstractVaricella, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, was once nearly universal in childhood before the advent of vaccination and may lead to severe complications and even fatalities. Monitoring varicella vaccine effectiveness is crucial yet often overlooked in settings with limited surveillance infrastructure. The Korean Varicella Immunization Monitoring (K-VIM) Scheme was established to address this gap by assembling a national, insurance-based birth cohort of children born between 2011 and 2022 (n=4,505,165). This cohort leverages comprehensive healthcare databases in Korea to capture vaccination records, medical visits, and varicella infection outcomes for virtually all children within the target birth years. We describe the enrollment and key characteristics of the K-VIM cohort, including vaccination coverage, demographic features, and varicella incidence to date. The structure and completeness of Korea’s national health insurance and immunization registries enable robust longitudinal tracking of varicella infections among vaccinated versus unvaccinated children. Early findings demonstrate distinct patterns in infection rates and disease severity according to vaccination status. The K-VIM Scheme provides a foundation for ongoing epidemiological studies of varicella vaccine effectiveness and public health impact in Korea. Future plans include evaluating the long-term effects of varicella vaccination, including potential impacts on herpes zoster incidence, using diverse study designs to strengthen causal inference and inform immunization policy.
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SummaryKorean summary
연구 목적 및 설계: K-VIM Scheme은 2011년부터 2022년 사이 출생한 450만 명 이상의 어린이를 대상으로 한 국가 단위 보험 기반 출생 코호트로, 국내 수두 백신의 장기적 효과와 안전성을 모니터링하기 위해 구축되었다. 데이터 통합: 국가 예방접종 등록자료와 건강보험 심사평가원 보험자료를 연계함으로써, 수두 감염 및 예방접종 결과를 추적 관찰 누락 없이 장기적으로 정밀하게 추적할 수 있다. 공중보건 기여: 본 연구 결과는 현재의 1회 접종 국가 예방접종 프로그램(NIP)을 평가하고, 향후 예방접종 정책 수립을 위한 2회 접종 일정의 잠재적 이익에 대한 핵심적인 근거를 제공할 수 있다.Key Message
Study Purpose and Design: The K-VIM Scheme is a national, insurance-based birth cohort of over 4.5 million children born between 2011 and 2022, established to monitor the long-term effectiveness and safety of varicella vaccination in Korea. Data Integration: By linking the National Immunization Registry with national healthcare claims data, the cohort enables robust longitudinal tracking of varicella infections and vaccination outcomes with minimal loss to follow-up. Public Health Impact: These findings provide a critical evidence base for evaluating the current 1-dose National Immunization Program and the potential benefits of 2-dose schedules to inform future immunization policies.
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