Chickenpox vaccinations to begin this autumn

Chickenpox vaccinations will begin in September. In the first round, the vaccine will be administered to children from 1.5-year-olds to fifth-graders who have never had chickenpox. Children will be vaccinated in conjunction with their routine check-ups. For school pupils, this will take place in the school nurse’s office, while younger children will receive their vaccinations at child health clinics.

The vaccine can also be purchased earlier at one’s own expense. This may be necessary for families that have a very sick child who has not yet had chickenpox, for example. According to Tuija Leino, Chief Physician at the Department of Vaccines and Immune Protection of the National Institute for Health and Welfare, waiting to have the child vaccinated at the time of the routine check-up is usually a safe course of action.

Chickenpox is worse than people think

The National Institute for Health and Welfare is concerned about the fact that not all families recognise how serious chickenpox can be. While the majority of those who are infected with chickenpox only get blisters and fever, the disease carries the risk of serious inflammation. The most common reason for hospitalisation is a serious inflammation of the skin.

The vaccine is also aimed at preventing shingles. Shingles can emerge particularly in ageing and seriously ill individuals. However, shingles only afflicts people who have previously had chickenpox. The National Institute for Health and Welfare estimates that the chickenpox vaccine will prevent 80–90% of shingles cases.

The chickenpox vaccine will produce millions of euros in cost savings for Finland through the decreased use of health care services, for example.

Sources

• YLE (in Finnish)
• THL (in Finnish)