Jan. 3, 2000--
This could be the year the chickenpox vaccine becomes required for kids entering school or child care facilities.
The American Academy of Pediatrics this month will recommend the move, saying the vaccine not only prevents the disease itself, but other complications as well.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates reports.
Remember the house with chickenpox, or at least the kid inside who had the disease?
The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to erase these memories, requiring that every child now be immunized against chickenpox before they're admitted to day care or public schools.
Studies show chicken pox potentially causes a lot more complications than just itching and scarring.
George Delavan, M.D. / Utah Health Department: "The other infection in children-- they can get encephalitis, which is a brain infection and that can cause some serious problems. In adolescents and adults, the common problem they can get into, they can get pneumonia."
Children with chickenpox are more likely to pick up severe, invasive Group A streptococcal disease. Also, a late term effect of chickenpox in adults is shingles - a herpes-like infection which produces painful lesions.
Followup studies in Japan show the vaccine provides long-term protection for at least 20 years. Pediatricians say side effects, if any, are mild.
The Salt Lake City/County Health Department currently offers the Varicella vaccine free of charge to children who havae no health insurance or those who are on Medicaid.
Other parents have to pay for the vaccine, and it's expensive.
Dr. George Delavan, who heads up Utah's Division of Community Health Services, says the State will launch an agressive campaign this year encouraging all parents to get their children immunized. Even though Utah's use of the vaccine is still low, only 30%, Dr. Delavan is NOT yet convinced the vaccine should be mandated as part of a child's immunization package.
Doctors say the varicella vaccine also works if it's given to a child who has been exposed to chickenpox, but is not yet showing symptoms.
From The American Academy of Pediatrics:
"In controlled trials, the varicella vaccine was found to be about 85 percent effective for preventing all cases of chickenpox, and almost 100 percent effective in preventing severe cases. The vaccine can also be effective when administered within three days of exposure to chickenpox."
"In addition, varicella vaccine reactions are generally mild and occur with an overall frequency of approximately 5 to 30 percent. In terms of waning immunity, follow-up evaluations of children immunized in clinical trials revealed protection for at least 11 years, and studies in Japan indicate protection for at least 20 years. Studies are underway to determine the need, if any, for additional doses of the varicella vaccine."
Links To More Information:
Kidshealth.org
Parentsplace.com
McMaster University Virology Paper
CDC: Vaccine Information Statements
