Chickenpox vaccination for children

Most kids recover from chickenpox, a common childhood illness, without any problems. It may, nevertheless, occasionally result in more severe health problems. This is where the vaccine for chickenpox comes in, shielding your child from this extremely contagious virus.

The chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective, helping to prevent your child from contracting the virus or significantly reducing the severity of symptoms if they do get sick. Many parents wonder when the best time is to vaccinate their children and whether it’s really necessary.

You can choose wisely for your child’s health if you are aware of the vaccine’s advantages and how it works. We’ll go over the benefits of vaccination, how it safeguards your child, and answer frequently asked questions and worries from parents.

Should a child be vaccinated against chickenpox and is it mandatory?

Many nations immunize children against chickenpox; in the USA and Europe, for instance, vaccination against the disease is required for all children. Even though this vaccination is listed on the vaccination schedule in our nation, it is merely an extra one. As a result, most kids only receive the chickenpox vaccination at their parents’ request.

Arguments "for"

• Although chickenpox at the age of 2-7 years often proceeds easily, but none of the children are immune from a more complex course with high fever, stomatitis, vomiting, aching joints, abundant rashes, damage to the mucous membranes of the eyes and other symptoms. The older the child, the more severe this disease is.
• The virus that causes chickenpox does not leave the body of a child who has had the disease, and at the age of over 40 years it often becomes the cause of shingles (in 15% of cases). Such pathology is manifested by a rash and severe pain, which is difficult to relieve with analgesics. When vaccinated, antibodies are formed in the child"s body, but the virus itself will not remain in the nerve endings.
• On the child"s skin, especially if he or she got chickenpox at an early age, there may be scars, dents and marks, because the rash with chickenpox is very itchy and small children scratch the rash. A timely vaccination will leave the baby"s skin perfectly smooth.
• Chickenpox can cause life-threatening complications, such as encephalitis or pneumonia. Vaccination will help to prevent their occurrence.
• If you get vaccinated within 72 hours after contact with a person with chickenpox, you can avoid infection. So, if parents are worried about whether it is possible to get vaccinated against chickenpox after contact with a sick person, then the answer is one – not only is it possible, but it is also desirable.
• The chickenpox vaccine is highly immunogenic. When such a vaccine is administered at the age of up to five years, it provides protection in 95% of children. After a single administration to adolescents and adults, immunity is formed in 78% of those vaccinated, and after repeated vaccination, immunity to the Varicella Zoster virus increases to 99%.
• Vaccination when planning a pregnancy will protect against the transmission of the Varicella Zoster virus to the fetus during gestation, and will also provide protection to the newborn baby for 6 months after birth. If a woman becomes infected with chickenpox and suffers from this infection during pregnancy, this is fraught with serious defects in the baby or the development of severe congenital chickenpox. If a future mother who has not previously suffered from chickenpox decides to get vaccinated before conception, she will avoid such consequences and will not get chickenpox herself in the future.

Arguments "against"

• Most cases of chickenpox under the age of 7 are mild, so some parents prefer to "get over it" and even take their child to visit children with chickenpox.
• Since the chickenpox vaccine is not mandatory, the purchase of the vaccine and payment for the procedure falls on the shoulders of the parents.
• Many mothers have doubts about whether it is possible to get sick after vaccination. This is indeed possible, but the number of vaccinated children who developed the disease after the vaccination is only 1%. In such cases, the infection is very mild and quickly goes away without treatment.

Opinion of Dr. Komarovsky

The well-known physician has a positive outlook on chickenpox vaccination and thinks parents who choose to protect their child from this illness are doing the right thing because fatal cases of the disease still occur in even the wealthiest nations. According to Komarovsky, vaccination against the chickenpox causative agent is particularly crucial for those who suffer from cancer, glomerulonephritis, immunodeficiency disorders, or heart problems. Chickenpox is fatal in such cases of pathology.

Watch this video to hear the doctor’s defense of vaccinations.

Indications

It is advised that all adults and children who have not yet contracted chickenpox receive a vaccination. Pregnant women should take extra precautions to avoid contracting the Varicella Zoster virus, as should employees of healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and childcare facilities.

If a child has had chickenpox, some mothers wonder if it is still worthwhile to give them the vaccine. Since the illness leaves a lifelong immunity and, in most cases, does not recur, there is no need for this.

At what age is it best to vaccinate

At the age of two, our pediatricians advise getting vaccinated against chickenpox. The World Health Organization advises administering this vaccination at 12 months along with the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines.

How long does it last

Research demonstrates that childhood vaccination typically results in a lifelong, robust immunity to the varicella zoster virus. However, in order to provide better protection against the chickenpox virus, vaccinations are administered again every 10 to 12 years overseas.

Contraindications

The chickenpox vaccine is not administered if:

• The baby has contracted an acute respiratory viral infection or an intestinal infection (after such an infection, a medical exemption for 3-4 weeks is required).
• The child is undergoing chemotherapy.
• The baby has an exacerbation of a chronic pathology (vaccination is allowed only during a period of stable remission).
• The child has had a blood transfusion (at least 3 months must pass before vaccination).
• The baby has had meningitis or was administered immunoglobulins (in such cases, the vaccination is done at least six months later).
• The baby has an allergy to the components of the drug.
• The child has severe leukopenia.

For each child, the attending physician should determine whether to vaccinate against diseases of the liver, hematopoietic organs, kidneys, heart, as well as allergies or other reactions to previously administered vaccines. Adults should not receive vaccinations while they are pregnant or nursing.

Children can be effectively protected from the virus that can cause uncomfortable symptoms and, in some cases, lead to complications by receiving the chickenpox vaccination. Children who receive vaccinations not only avoid the fever and itching associated with chickenpox, but they also contribute to the reduction of the illness’s transmission to others. The vaccination is essential to maintaining children’s health because it is safe and promotes lifetime immunity.

How is it tolerated

One of the easiest and safest vaccinations for a child’s body to receive is the chickenpox vaccine. Most children’s bodies react to the introduction of such a vaccine without experiencing any negative side effects. Redness, mild swelling, or soreness at the vaccination site only rarely occurs in children who received the chickenpox vaccine. These adverse effects start to show up 24 hours after the injection and go away in a day or two.

It’s also possible for general symptoms to appear seven to twenty-one days after vaccination.

• Slight deterioration in the general condition of the baby and weakness.
• Increased body temperature.
• Formation of a rash on the skin, as with chickenpox.
• Appearance of skin itching.
• Enlargement and slight soreness of the lymph nodes.

These symptoms go away on their own and don’t need to be treated.

In one out of every ten children who receive a chickenpox vaccination, if contraindications are disregarded, the child may experience the following side effects:

• Thrombocytopenia.
• Shingles.
• Impaired sensitivity of nerves.
• Encephalitis.
• Exudative erythema.
• Joint damage.

Drugs used

To protect against chickenpox, the following vaccinations are administered:

1. Varilrix. This Belgian drug was the first to be used in our country for vaccination against the chickenpox pathogen since 2008. It is presented as a powder in a bottle, which comes with a syringe filled with liquid.
2. OkaVax. This French vaccine has been used in our country since 2010. It is available in the form of two bottles – one contains a dried virus in a weakened state, and the second contains a liquid for diluting the powder (solvent).

The vaccines include the weakened Varicella Zoster virus along with additional ingredients like gelatin, sucrose, EDTA, sodium glutamate, sodium chloride, and the antibiotic neomycin. Both medications are safe for children and provide effective protection against chickenpox.

How is vaccination carried out

How many times is vaccination carried out

• If parents decide to vaccinate a child under 13, then only one dose of the vaccine will form a strong immunity.
• In adolescence over 13 years of age and in adulthood, two doses are required, administered at intervals of 6 to 10 weeks.
• If the expectant mother wants to protect herself and her future baby from chickenpox, the vaccination is administered at least 3 months before the planned pregnancy.

Where to administer the injection

The deltoid muscle of the shoulder is where the chickenpox vaccine is injected subcutaneously, though intramuscular administration is also permitted. The region beneath the shoulder blade is another location where the vaccine can be given. It is not permitted to administer this vaccine intravenously.

Compatibility with other vaccines

Other inactivated vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines, can be given to a child concurrently. If an inactivated preparation is used for vaccination, combination with the flu vaccine is possible. It is not possible to administer the chickenpox vaccine and a live flu shot at the same time. Moreover, BCG and the chickenpox vaccine are not given together.

Where can you get vaccinated

At a state clinic, private medical clinic, vaccination center, or any other medical facility where vaccination is allowed, you can vaccinate your child against chickenpox. These facilities have experts on staff who will give your child the vaccination without any issues.

Price

The cost of the two chickenpox vaccines is comparable. Parents will pay between 2,500 and 4,500 rubles for the vaccination, depending on the city and pharmacy.

Although chickenpox is a common childhood illness, in certain cases, it can cause serious complications. One of the most effective ways to stop this is to vaccinate your child. It has been demonstrated that the vaccine lowers the risk of serious side effects and complications.

The chickenpox vaccine is safe for the majority of kids, with the most common side effects being a sore arm or a slight fever. It is imperative that you adhere to the vaccination schedule that medical professionals prescribe in order to guarantee your child’s protection.

Ultimately, vaccination helps stop the virus from spreading to other people in addition to protecting your child. Speak with your pediatrician if you have any concerns so that you can make the best choice for your family and feel at ease.

Video on the topic

Chickenpox vaccination. Why vaccinate a child against chickenpox

Chickenpox vaccination. Episode 4. Cartoons for children.Punya the pig and her friends. 2024

Chickenpox vaccinations – Doctor Komarovsky – Inter