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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Children may get chickenpox jab | Children may get chickenpox jab |
| (2 days later) | |
| The Department of Health is to consider a mass vaccination of children in England against chickenpox. | The Department of Health is to consider a mass vaccination of children in England against chickenpox. |
| Experts have been drafted in to weigh up the benefits following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). | Experts have been drafted in to weigh up the benefits following a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). |
| One option is believed to be combining a chickenpox vaccine with MMR in a new four-in-one jab. | One option is believed to be combining a chickenpox vaccine with MMR in a new four-in-one jab. |
| However, there is concern that a chickenpox jab would fuel a rise in cases of shingles in adults. | However, there is concern that a chickenpox jab would fuel a rise in cases of shingles in adults. |
| CHICKENPOX SYMPTOMS Initially mild fever and headachesCrops of red spots soon appear, which develop itchy fluid-filled central blistersAfter a couple of days these scab over and dry upIn rare cases associated bacterial infection can lead to potentially fatal conditions, such as toxic shock syndromeOther complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis and inflammation of the blood vessels | CHICKENPOX SYMPTOMS Initially mild fever and headachesCrops of red spots soon appear, which develop itchy fluid-filled central blistersAfter a couple of days these scab over and dry upIn rare cases associated bacterial infection can lead to potentially fatal conditions, such as toxic shock syndromeOther complications can include pneumonia, encephalitis and inflammation of the blood vessels |
| Some critics are also concerned that children face a risk of being "over-vaccinated". | Some critics are also concerned that children face a risk of being "over-vaccinated". |
| Children are currently recommended to have 13 vaccinations against various diseases from infancy up to the age of 18. | Children are currently recommended to have 13 vaccinations against various diseases from infancy up to the age of 18. |
| Ten jabs against eight diseases are given before the age of two. | Ten jabs against eight diseases are given before the age of two. |
| A vaccine against chickenpox was licensed in the UK in 2002 but it has never been part of routine childhood vaccinations and is not currently recommended for standard use. | A vaccine against chickenpox was licensed in the UK in 2002 but it has never been part of routine childhood vaccinations and is not currently recommended for standard use. |
| However, the chickenpox vaccine is routine in the US. | However, the chickenpox vaccine is routine in the US. |
| Deaths | Deaths |
| Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus. It is effects are usually mild in children. However, it is more serious for adults and can sometimes be fatal. | Chickenpox is a highly contagious virus. It is effects are usually mild in children. However, it is more serious for adults and can sometimes be fatal. |
| It causes about 20 adult deaths in England and Wales each year. | It causes about 20 adult deaths in England and Wales each year. |
| Among those who have called for the introduction of a chickenpox jab are Professor Anne Gershon, an expert in paediatrics at Columbia University in New York, who has argued the policy could help to save many lives. | Among those who have called for the introduction of a chickenpox jab are Professor Anne Gershon, an expert in paediatrics at Columbia University in New York, who has argued the policy could help to save many lives. |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "The JCVI requested that we set up a sub-group to look into the issues of vaccinating against chickenpox. | A Department of Health spokesman said: "The JCVI requested that we set up a sub-group to look into the issues of vaccinating against chickenpox. |
| "This work is at a very early stage. The JCVI considers a wide variety of issues around vaccination and immunisation. | "This work is at a very early stage. The JCVI considers a wide variety of issues around vaccination and immunisation. |
| "Any recommendation to make a change to the programme is only put forward after a lengthy and thorough consideration of all the evidence." | "Any recommendation to make a change to the programme is only put forward after a lengthy and thorough consideration of all the evidence." |
| The virus which causes chickenpox - varicella zoster - can settle in the spinal cord, and during periods when the body is run down it can trigger the painful rash known as shingles. |