What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella zoster virus, and is common in the UK. It results in an itchy rash, and aches, a high temperature and a loss of appetite can also occur, according to the NHS.
Most people catch chickenpox in childhood – about 90% have had it by 10 years of age, according to UK Health Security Agency – and tend to have a mild illness, but it can also occur in adults who have not previously been infected. These infections tend to be more severe.
Once someone has had chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in the body. If reactivated it can cause shingles. This tends to occur in cases where the immune system is weak. The UK has had a universal shingles vaccination programme in place for older adults since 2013.
Who can currently get a chickenpox vaccination on the NHS?
A number of services offer the varicella vaccination privately, for about £150 for two doses, but the jabs are available for free on the NHS only to certain groups.
The NHS says these include children and adults who are in regular or close contact with people who could become very ill from a chickenpox infection or have a weakened immune system.
What is the JCVI recommending?
The JCVI says the varicella vaccine should be added to the UK’s routine childhood immunisation programme, with two shots offered to all children, one at 12 months and the second at 18 months. There will also be a temporary catchup programme for older children. This is important because many children were not exposed to chickenpox during the Covid pandemic because of social restrictions.
What happened to chickenpox parties?
Many may remember being dragged off as children to meet itchy, spotty friends so that they could catch the virus when young, but times have changed.
The introduction of a chickenpox vaccine not only prevents children from experiencing a pretty miserable rash but could also save lives. Some children develop nasty complications including inflammation of the lungs, inflammation of the brain and stroke, which in some cases can be fatal.
It could also help others by reducing circulation of the chickenpox virus in the community, thereby protecting adults who have not previously had the disease, including pregnant women and their unborn children, for whom chickenpox can be dangerous.
Is the UK alone on this?
No, in fact the UK is behind a number other countries including Germany, Canada, Australia and the US. Data from those countries suggests that incorporating the chickenpox vaccine into routine childhood immunisation programmes reduces cases of the disease and related hospital admissions.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the chickenpox vaccination programme in the US has prevented 91m cases, 238,000 hospital admissions and 2,000 deaths over a 25-year period.
Why has the JCVI only followed suit now?
There are several reasons, including new work showing the impact and burden of severe varicella infections, and data showing that the move would be cost-effective.
Reducing the circulation of the chickenpox virus in the community could also mean that adults who have previously had chickenpox would not get immune-boosting exposure to the virus, leaving them at greater risk of shingles, but the JCVI says data from the US shows that is not the case.
