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| Support for child chickenpox jabs | Support for child chickenpox jabs |
| (1 day later) | |
| Vaccinating all children is the only way to prevent severe illness and death from chickenpox, researchers have said. | Vaccinating all children is the only way to prevent severe illness and death from chickenpox, researchers have said. |
| In one 13-month period in the UK and Irish Republic, there were six deaths and 112 cases of severe complications among children, they said. | In one 13-month period in the UK and Irish Republic, there were six deaths and 112 cases of severe complications among children, they said. |
| Problems included blood poisoning and pneumonia and did not just affect those with other health problems, said teams including health experts from Scotland. | Problems included blood poisoning and pneumonia and did not just affect those with other health problems, said teams including health experts from Scotland. |
| Ministers are awaiting a report on whether England should have a vaccine. | Ministers are awaiting a report on whether England should have a vaccine. |
| Universal vaccination would therefore be the only realistic option to prevent severe complications and deaths Chickenpox researchers 'Chickenpox killed my son' | Universal vaccination would therefore be the only realistic option to prevent severe complications and deaths Chickenpox researchers 'Chickenpox killed my son' |
| Chickenpox, caused by the varicella virus, is generally a mild infection and nine out of 10 cases happen in children under the age of 15. | Chickenpox, caused by the varicella virus, is generally a mild infection and nine out of 10 cases happen in children under the age of 15. |
| However, rare but dangerous complications can happen in a small number of healthy children or those with other chronic health problems. | However, rare but dangerous complications can happen in a small number of healthy children or those with other chronic health problems. |
| For every 1,000 children who catch chickenpox, on average between two and five of them will end up in hospital. | For every 1,000 children who catch chickenpox, on average between two and five of them will end up in hospital. |
| Various complications | Various complications |
| Researchers from Health Protection Scotland and the universities of London and Bristol looked at cases over a 13-month period. | Researchers from Health Protection Scotland and the universities of London and Bristol looked at cases over a 13-month period. |
| They found that the complications varied widely, with the most common being bacterial blood poisoning, pneumonia and encephalitis, and loss of muscle control. | They found that the complications varied widely, with the most common being bacterial blood poisoning, pneumonia and encephalitis, and loss of muscle control. |
| 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 |
| Smaller numbers of patients suffered toxic shock syndrome or the "flesh-eating" infection necrotising fasciitis. | Smaller numbers of patients suffered toxic shock syndrome or the "flesh-eating" infection necrotising fasciitis. |
| In total, there were six deaths, including one death of a baby in the womb. | In total, there were six deaths, including one death of a baby in the womb. |
| The researchers, writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, concluded that the complications did not just happen in vulnerable children and that the only way to prevent them was to vaccinate all youngsters. | The researchers, writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, concluded that the complications did not just happen in vulnerable children and that the only way to prevent them was to vaccinate all youngsters. |
| They wrote: "Universal vaccination would therefore be the only realistic option to prevent severe complications and deaths, as few, if any, could be identified as potentially preventable under the current UK policy." | They wrote: "Universal vaccination would therefore be the only realistic option to prevent severe complications and deaths, as few, if any, could be identified as potentially preventable under the current UK policy." |
| MMR extra | MMR extra |
| In an accompanying editorial, clinicians from Bristol Children's Hospital said that even if all children were not vaccinated, a smaller strategy of immunising teenagers who had not suffered the illness would prevent cases of severe disease in adults. | In an accompanying editorial, clinicians from Bristol Children's Hospital said that even if all children were not vaccinated, a smaller strategy of immunising teenagers who had not suffered the illness would prevent cases of severe disease in adults. |
| They said that one option for universal vaccination - adding the chickenpox jab to the existing MMR vaccine - might not win public support. | They said that one option for universal vaccination - adding the chickenpox jab to the existing MMR vaccine - might not win public support. |
| Any benefits to children from a chickenpox vaccine would have to be offset against any potential increase in adult chickenpox and shingles in the elderly Nigel ScottHerpes Viruses Association Q&A: Chickenpox vaccine | Any benefits to children from a chickenpox vaccine would have to be offset against any potential increase in adult chickenpox and shingles in the elderly Nigel ScottHerpes Viruses Association Q&A: Chickenpox vaccine |
| They also raised the possibility that rates of shingles, caused in adults by the same virus, might rise if all children were vaccinated against it. | They also raised the possibility that rates of shingles, caused in adults by the same virus, might rise if all children were vaccinated against it. |
| Adults who have already suffered a bout of chickenpox do not usually develop it again, but the virus lives on in their nerves and if their immunity falls later in life, it can flare up as a painful rash. | Adults who have already suffered a bout of chickenpox do not usually develop it again, but the virus lives on in their nerves and if their immunity falls later in life, it can flare up as a painful rash. |
| However, living in households with children who have chickenpox acts as a "booster" to their immunity, and reduces the chances of a shingles attack. | However, living in households with children who have chickenpox acts as a "booster" to their immunity, and reduces the chances of a shingles attack. |
| Advice expected | Advice expected |
| Nigel Scott, from the Herpes Viruses Association, said: "If we had to choose between the two, we would advocate vaccinating the elderly, as shingles is far more likely to cause serious health problems in many more people than is chickenpox in the young. | Nigel Scott, from the Herpes Viruses Association, said: "If we had to choose between the two, we would advocate vaccinating the elderly, as shingles is far more likely to cause serious health problems in many more people than is chickenpox in the young. |
| "Any benefits to children from a chickenpox vaccine would have to be offset against any potential increase in adult chickenpox and shingles in the elderly. | "Any benefits to children from a chickenpox vaccine would have to be offset against any potential increase in adult chickenpox and shingles in the elderly. |
| "The effect on the whole population needs to be considered, not just one age group." | "The effect on the whole population needs to be considered, not just one age group." |
| Many other countries routinely immunise their children against chickenpox, and the Department of Health is already considering whether this would be the right move. | Many other countries routinely immunise their children against chickenpox, and the Department of Health is already considering whether this would be the right move. |
| A spokesman said: "The immunisation programme in England has been developed to meet the needs of the population and is based on independent scientific advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). | A spokesman said: "The immunisation programme in England has been developed to meet the needs of the population and is based on independent scientific advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). |
| "JCVI has commissioned an expert sub-group to look at all the scientific and medical evidence on chickenpox vaccines, including this recently published paper, and it will provide advice in due course." | "JCVI has commissioned an expert sub-group to look at all the scientific and medical evidence on chickenpox vaccines, including this recently published paper, and it will provide advice in due course." |