You always want what’s best for your children, and that includes protecting them from serious illness wherever possible. So, should you get your child vaccinated against chickenpox? To help you make your decision, here is some information about the chickenpox vaccine and the disease it prevents.
Prevention rather than cure
Public health experts recommend that you have your child vaccinated against chickenpox, which is also known as varicella. In Canada, a round of two doses of the MMRV vaccine (for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella) offers children 98 per cent immunization. If they still catch the chickenpox, the symptoms are mild and of short duration. An unvaccinated person who catches the disease after the end of childhood has greater chances of suffering serious complications. Side effects of the vaccine are generally limited to a slightly sore arm or a low fever.
The importance of vaccination
Having your children vaccinated against chickenpox not only immunizes them against the disease and its complications, but it also protects other people. If an unvaccinated child catches chickenpox, he or she may transmit the virus to others, and so on. The varicella virus is highly contagious and spreads through the air with coughing or sneezing or by direct contact with body fluids.
What exactly is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a contagious illness characterized by the appearance of fluid-filled blisters on the entire body, including the scalp. The blisters are very itchy, and if they are scratched and become infected, they can leave permanent scars. In addition to the eruption of skin lesions and itching, the other symptoms of chickenpox are fever, runny nose and headache.
Is it a serious illness?
In most cases, chickenpox is relatively harmless and lasts seven to ten days. However, when figuring out whether you should have your child vaccinated against chickenpox you should think about the possible complications. Secondary problems can occur in newborns, adults and people whose immune system is weakened by disease or medical treatments. The complications range from earache to bacterial infections to pneumonia. Pregnant women can also pass the virus to their babies; children exposed to chickenpox before birth are more likely to suffer brain damage, pneumonia or congenital malformation.
A dormant virus
Once it has entered your body, the varicella virus stays there all your life. It can resurface later as shingles, which presents itself as a painful rash that often causes nerve pain long after the disappearance of the blisters. In some cases, the pain can affect quality of life.
If you’re still undecided about whether you should have your child vaccinated against chickenpox, talk to a healthcare professional at your doctor’s office or clinic.
