Is The Chickenpox Vaccine Effective?

January 22, 2008

In Texas today it was reported by the AP that the number of cases is up by 41% even though vaccination is required.

Chicken pox cases up despite vaccine

SAN ANTONIO — Texas recorded a 41 percent increase in cases of chicken pox from 2005 to 2006, despite an eight-year-old requirement that children be vaccinated before they can enter kindergarten.

Texas enacted the vaccine requirement for the 2000-2001 school year, but has not mandated a booster for children between the ages of 4 and 6.

A federal advisory committee recommended last year that children get the second dose, after an initial dose at age 1. Texas Department of State Health Services officials said they will study the booster this spring to decide if it too should be required in schools and day care centers.

San Antonio pediatrician Dr. Dianna Burns said she has started seeing a few cases of the virus this season, which normally lasts from late winter through spring. She said most parents agree when she offers the booster.

“The problem is, we’ve had a shortage of the chickenpox vaccine,” Burns said. “That hit us just about at the beginning of school. We’ve had to prioritize to make sure everybody had at least one dose, so we prioritize toward the front.”

Chicken pox, known medically as varicella, is a viral illness marked by a low-grade fever and small blisters that break open and crust. Children with the virus are normally asked to stay home from school for a few days while they’re contagious.

Shirley Schreiber, director of health services with the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, said vaccinated students who get chicken pox end up staying home the same number of days as they would have without the vaccine.

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North Dakota passes vaccine law.

January 17, 2008

This is a case of government doing something right. As of the 1st of 2008 they have required students entering school to have a second dose of the chickenpox vaccination. This is a positive move and should help eliminate outbreaks of chickenpox in the school system.

Here is more information from the local news channel.

As of the first of the year, children in daycare are required to be immunized against Hepatitis A, Rotavirus, and Pnuemococcal disease.

Beginning next school year, students entering kindergarten must get a second dose of the chickenpox vaccine. Middle school students will need to be immunized against meningococcal disease, as well as tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

The changes are in addition to previously required immunizations, and experts say they`re a good way to keep kids, and their parents healthy.

“Immunizations are important because they not only prevent yourself from getting diseases, or your children, but also from the people around you, so it`s important to keep our kids healthy,” says Molly Sander, Immunization Program Manager.

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Chickenpox vaccine law puts school officials on the spot

January 16, 2008

As you can see from the story below the need to vaccinate your children is so important. Chickenpox can be prevented, but due to the lack of proper vaccinations it is not. Here is and article from the local news in Brunswick, ME. For the full story visit the link at the end of the article excerpt.

New chicken pox vaccine law puts BHS officials on the spot

01/14/2008 BRUNSWICK —

A chicken pox outbreak barred 140 students from Brunswick High School last week after school staff confirmed on Tuesday that one student had caught the virus.
“We identified the students who could be the most vulnerable to contracting this disease. These students, according to our records, had not received the related immunization or had not contracted the disease during childhood. Contact was made with the identified students along with most of their parents, and efforts were put in place to address or correct the documented status of each student,” Brunswick High School Principal Bruce Cook wrote in a letter to parents and guardians on Wednesday.

To return to school, high school students need to bring documentation of having their first of two rounds of inoculation required for immunity for children older than 13.

All but 20 students returned with the proper documentation the next day, interim Superintendent David Wallace reported at Wednesday’s School Board meeting, but seven students were still excluded as of Friday. Snow canceled classes today.

Special Education Director Paul Austin said the school confirmed one case of chicken pox on Tuesday, and a new law implemented this year meant students that didn’t have documentation of either immunity or inoculation could be sent home for up to 16 days.

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