Babies should be given chickenpox vaccine on the NHS, Government advisers recommend as they call for catch-up programme that could see all 7million kids under 11 offered jab
- Data suggests vaccine would slash chickenpox transmission and severe cases
- The Department of Health will make a final decision on whether to roll out the jab
A chickenpox vaccine should be offered to babies in the UK, how to buy hard on oral jelly online pharmacy without prescription the Government’s immunisation advisors have said.
Data suggests the jab would slash chickenpox transmission and prevent most severe cases in children, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
It has submitted its recommendations to the Department of Health, which will make a final decision on whether to implement a rollout.
If given the green light, the jab — which can already be bought privately for £150 — would be offered on the NHS in two doses at 12 and 18 months as part of the UK’s routine childhood vaccination schedule.
The vaccine advisors have also recommended a temporary catch-up campaign, which could see the injection offered to all 7million under-11s.
Data suggests the jab, which would be offered in two doses at 12 and 18 months, would slash chickenpox transmission and prevent most severe cases in children, according to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI)
The US, Germany, Canada and Australia already offer the injection and have reported dramatic declines in chickenpox cases and hospitalisations, the JCVI said.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, chair of the JCVI, said: ‘Chickenpox is well known, and most parents will probably consider it a common and mild illness among children.
‘But for some babies, young children and even adults, chickenpox or its complications can be very serious, resulting in hospitalisation and even death.
‘Adding the varicella vaccine to the childhood immunisation programme will dramatically reduce the number of chickenpox cases in the community, leading to far fewer of those tragic, more serious cases.
‘We now have decades of evidence from the US and other countries showing that introducing this programme is safe, effective and will have a really positive impact on the health of young children.’
Most will suffer from the itchy and spotty rash in childhood, which usually gets better on its own within a fortnight.
However, scientists are concerned after chickenpox cases slumped during the Covid pandemic due to lockdowns and social distancing.
As a result, there is now a larger pool of children than usual without immunity to the usually mild illness.
The JCVI believes a catch-up programme would offer children protection against the infection, as chickenpox can become more severe with age.
Some chickenpox sufferers will go on to develop complications, including bacterial infections such as group A streptococcus.
In severe cases it can cause a swelling of the brain (encephalitis), inflammation of the lungs (pneumonitis) and a stroke, which can result in hospitalisation and even death.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of public health programmes at the UK Health Security Agency, said: ‘Introducing a vaccine against chickenpox would prevent most children getting what can be quite a nasty illness — and for those who would experience more severe symptoms, it could be a life saver.
‘The JCVI’s recommendations will help make chickenpox a problem of the past and bring the UK into line with a number of other countries that have well-established programmes.’
Source: Read Full Article