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THE HEALTH INFORMATION and Quality Authority (HIQA) is considering the addition of the chickenpox vaccine to the childhood immunisation schedule.
HIQA is to publish an assessment of such a move on the request of the Department of Health, supported by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).
It will examine the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness, budget impact, ethical and social aspects of expanding the childhood vaccination schedule to include the chickenpox vaccine.
The vaccine inoculates against the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles. Chickenpox is a common infectious disease which mainly affects children.
Shingles typically occurs later in life due to reactivation of the virus.
One case of chickenpox can potentially infect 10 to 12 people.
Dr Conor Teljeur, HIQA’s Chief Scientist, said in a press statement: “A vaccine for chickenpox was first developed almost 50 years ago. Over the last 30 years, a growing number of countries around the world have added the chickenpox vaccine to their routine childhood immunisation schedules.
“In Ireland, the vaccine is currently recommended for non-immune individuals in certain risk groups. Our assessment will examine the impact of adding the vaccine to the childhood immunisation schedule.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that routine chickenpox immunisation for children should be considered in countries where chickenpox is an important public health burden and there are sufficient resources to vaccinate at least 80% of the population on an ongoing basis.
Within the EU, the annual incidence of chickenpox is typically equivalent to the birth cohort. The total number of births in Ireland annually is approximately 56,000.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also recommended introducing childhood immunisation for chickenpox, but only after countries have conducted their own assessments.
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Like pretty much everyone had chickenpox as a kid and even though I was very young I remember how horrible it was. I saw my dad suffer through shingles in his face 3 maybe 4 yrs ago. He was in severe pain even though he luckily had a relatively mild flare up. At the first chance offered we got our daughter the chickenpox vaccine. Even more so to try protect her from shingles than the actual chickenpox. Shingles are terrible, I know many who have been fit and healthy who have been ill and in severe pain for wks with it. I think if it can be avoided as easily as a vaccine when you’re a baby it can only be a good thing.
@Sophie: hopefully enough lasts to avoid that. Or they develop a different version for adults to help avoid shingles. The kids will have 20 or so yrs virus free for them to figure it out. I’d do anything to help someone avoid it. An old boss of mine got it once across his back and side. Couldn’t wear anything from the waist up for about 2 months. Could barely sleep and was in constant pain. I think anything is worth a shot……. No pun intended.
@Sophie: NHS have interesting info on their recommendations following the study, it lines up with your comment also. And the risk of chicken pox in pregnancy is very significant too.
@bazhealy: there is a shingles vaccine. I got it from my GP a few years ago
@Sophie: you generally cant get shingles without having chickenpox and the vaccine protects agaisnt both, theres other risks to chickenpox like deafness blindness nerver dmg pnumonia menegitis etc especially in very young children also chickenpox is airborne whereas shingles isnt, so less risk.
@Dermot Donnelly: The journal deleted my comment which was the summary of the outcome of the NHS study into the same thing. All fact and taken from their website, how is that inappropriate?!
@Sarah Lou: i didnt say it was innapropriate
We were late to the party getting the rotavirus vaccine added to the childhood schedule implementing it only after many other countries had done so. It is or was the leading cause of hospital admission for young children and should have been a no-brainer on cost and freeing up scarce hospital resources. It was rather belatedly introduced in 2016. As with the varicella vaccine if it is available, cost-effective, can reduce incidences of chicken pox and shingles, and is already in widespread use in EU countries like Germany and the US well let’s not wait years doing our assessment here.
Really should. It cost us €140 to get it done privately. Worth it to save the pain and disruption.
And the tinfoil hat brigade in
3
2
1…….
@Self Employed Anarchist: something something something Microchip something something something 5g something something something Bill Gates
@Gavin Conran: can’t believe you missed : something something ” Soros”
@SomeoneSomewhere: something something great reset.
The must have a huge amount of syringes left over
@Nomad: why ?
Best thing we ever did getting ours vaccinated for this. Yes it was costly but time and time again in their early years we avoided getting it. Every time the notice went up in crèche I felt it was a well spent decision. Some children get horrendous chicken pox.
My two grandkids had it only a week ago one was very mild but our second had it very bad and covered in spots, she was driven mad with the itch. But thankfully the old reliable calamine lotion sorted it out. Any proper researched vaccine would be welcome.
@M: honestly I will never forget the feeling of being doused in calamine lotion it was horrific and the itch and then nevermind all of the scars I have been left with over my body because try telling 6-year old not to pick scabs……
Wait for the tin foil hat wearers to have a canary.
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