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Photo Credit – CDC
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1995, the week-long misery of itchy skin lesions and fever that accompanied chickenpox was practically a universal rite of passage.
Extremely contagious, infection by the varicella zoster virus is perhaps the most common of the childhood diseases. It is not, however, as benign of an illness as many people believe.
While most children recover after an uncomfortable week, prior to the introduction of the vaccine the United States saw between 100 and 150 chickenpox-related deaths each year.
Complications included bacterial infections of the skin, encephalitis, and pneumonia, and every year chickenpox hospitalized over 10,000 people.
Today, in a report in the journal Pediatrics, we get a study that finds that the number of chickenpox-related deaths have plummeted in the United States since the introduction of the vaccine.
Near Elimination of Varicella Deaths in the US After Implementation of the Vaccination Program
Mona Marin, MD, John X. Zhang, PhD, Jane F. Seward, MBBS, MPH
During the first 12 years of the varicella vaccination program – when 1 dose of vaccine was generally administered - the mortality rate declined by 88% in the United States.
In 2006 ACIP recommended moving to 2 doses of vaccine - with the first dose administered at age 12--15 months and the second dose at age 4--6 years (MMWR june 22, 2007 / 56(RR04);1-40), which is expected will further reduce the number of deaths over the next few years.
The CDC’s Vaccines & Immunizations website provides more information on the Varicella vaccine.
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccination
Chickenpox vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox. Vaccination not only protects vaccinated persons, it also reduces the risk for exposure in the community for persons unable to be vaccinated because of illness or other conditions, including those who may be at greater risk for severe disease.
While no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing disease, the chickenpox vaccine is very effective: about 8 to 9 of every 10 people who are vaccinated are completely protected from chickenpox. In addition, the vaccine almost always prevents against severe disease. If a vaccinated person does get chickenpox, it is usually a very mild case lasting only a few days and involving fewer skin lesions (usually less than 50), mild or no fever, and few other symptoms.
While some parents may remain skeptical over the value of a vaccine against what they perceive to be a `mild illness’, today’s report goes a long ways towards demonstrating the benefits.
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