Most parents prefer to adhere to the state-regulated vaccination schedule for children. However, in addition to conducting mandatory injections, there are additional injections that can deliver responsible moms and dads to their baby at their own request. Should a child be vaccinated against chickenpox ? This question is asked by many adults, fearing a simple, at first glance, seemingly childhood illness.
General information about the disease
Before you bother with the question of how much vaccination against chickenpox is needed for a child, you should learn a little more about this disease. Such information will help you weigh all possible risks and make the most rational decision.
Chickenpox, or chicken pox, is considered an easily transmitted childhood illness, which can affect not only babies, but also adolescents, as well as adults. It is easily transmitted by air and has the ability to total infection of others. The causative agent of this disease is the zoster virus (or herpes of the 3rd type), it can also cause the appearance of shingles.
In childhood, the disease is tolerated quite easily and often proceeds without any specific complications. However, statistics suggest that in ten cases out of a hundred, the virus is accompanied by unpleasant consequences (damage to the central nervous system and other internal organs). An ill person develops immunity, in the future the child may no longer be afraid of such an infection. Cases of re-illness were recorded extremely rarely, in fact in isolated cases (for example, in persons with immunodeficiency).
Possible consequences of the disease
Let's talk about the need for chickenpox vaccination for a child? The standard course of the virus implies an incubation period, then the disease develops, bubbles appear on the skin of the baby, an unpleasant itch begins to appear, a desire to comb the formation. The first few days may be an increase in temperature. As soon as new pimples stop forming and the old ones dry out, the problem goes into decline. At the age of 12 years, the side effects of the disease develop extremely rarely, however, children in the early adolescence carry the virus much harder than tiny babies.
Possible complications include pneumonia, chickenpox encephalitis, skin infections, eye or facial nerve damage, herpes, shingles, and even death. The vaccination carried out minimizes possible risks and provides an easier course of the disease.
Duration of Injection
Another popular question that parents are interested in on this topic is as follows: "When do children get chickenpox vaccination?" Vaccination of babies is carried out after they reach 12 months. There is no upper threshold for drug administration ; injections can be made at five, at ten, and at twenty.
Vaccination against chickenpox for children can be carried out after contact with the sick. It is advisable to visit a specialist within three days after a possible infection, in which case the injections performed will have maximum effectiveness. There is a significant chance that your child will be able to avoid the disease or suffer it without any external manifestations and consequences.
The negative effects of vaccination
Does the side effect of a chickenpox vaccine provoke children? Reviews of many parents contain information that without unpleasant consequences from vaccination can not do. Of course, such a negative reaction does not manifest itself at all and not always, but it is certainly worth being prepared for it. So, standard side effects are usually represented by the following changes in health status:
- Local redness of the skin at the site of violation of their integrity.
- Swelling, seal under the skin.
- Allergy, most often in the form of a superficial rash, accompanied by skin itching, temporary difficulty breathing, swelling of the larynx.
- Headache of moderate severity.
- Drowsiness, apathy, general malaise.
- Colds, runny nose and mild cough, sore throat.
- Cramps.
Almost all unpleasant manifestations occur within a couple of days after vaccination, but there are so-called delayed effects. Most often they occur after 15-20 days and consist in the appearance of a mild rash, low temperature and a change in the state of the lymph nodes. In persons with strong immunity, such side effects are extremely rare.
As a rule, treatment of the consequences of vaccination is not required; any reaction of the body to the vaccine passes quickly and independently. With the development of allergies, it is necessary to take antihistamines prescribed by a specialist.
What cannot be a vaccine dangerous?
Many are afraid that vaccination against chickenpox for children may provoke infection and the development of the disease. Such opinions have nothing to do with the truth, after the introduction of the vaccine, your child does not become dangerous to others and can not become infected by himself. The introduction of the drug implies the transplantation of a weakened virus, which is simply not able to provoke infection.
Vaccines Used
Vaccinations from chickenpox to a child in our country are carried out on the basis of several foreign vaccines. Depending on which tool was chosen for the injection, the scheme for the introduction of the composition varies. There are two main methods for preventing chickenpox:
- On the basis of the Belgian drug Varilrix (once up to 12 years, twice with an interval of 2 to 3 months for adolescents and older persons).
- Based on the Japanese Okavax squad (once in any case).
The introduction of drugs is carried out subcutaneously, however, in some cases, intramuscular administration of the compounds is also allowed.
Where do they inject?
Vaccination against chickenpox for children is not a mandatory measure. It is possible to vaccinate both in the district clinic, as prescribed by the doctor, and in a paid medical center. Before administering the drug, a specialist must inspect the child and decide whether injections are possible at this particular moment.
The main contraindications
Now you know the answers to many questions about why chickenpox vaccination is indicated for children, where to get an injection, and what the consequences of vaccine administration may be. It is time to talk about possible contraindications, conditions that make preventive injections impossible. So, vaccinations for babies are not carried out with:
- Immunodeficiency.
- Acute leukemia.
- Elevated body temperature (from 37.5 and above).
- Acute viral diseases, as well as in the recovery period after them (from 2 to 4 weeks), depending on the severity of the disease, the rehabilitation period can be reduced.
- Diseases of the central nervous system, as well as the recovery period after them (up to 6 months, determined by a specialist).
- The acute stage of a chronic disease.
- Planned in the near future or recently performed surgical interventions.
The experience of Western experts
Do children get chickenpox vaccination in Europe? This question can also be met quite often. In our country for quite a long time there was no vaccine against such a disease, however, there was simply no need for it.
Unfortunately, over time, severe cases of chickenpox treatment have only become more frequent, which means that the need for a vaccine has grown significantly.
As for the experience of foreign experts, the first studies on the creation of preventive drugs outside of our country began in the 70s of the 20th century, vaccinations began in the 80s, and mass vaccination a little later, in the 90s .
Opinion and advice of domestic experts
Many parents are interested in the opinion of experts on the question of how much the chickenpox vaccination is needed for children. Komarovsky, a well-known pediatric pediatrician, fully supports the idea of vaccinating babies against this disease. Among other things, a popular doctor recommends following these guidelines:
- Reduce hygiene procedures, but do not completely cancel them. Replace the bathtub with a shower, do not forget to gently pat the skin.
- Regularly put on your baby clean linen and clothes, it is advisable to change several times a day.
- Use zelenka not for treatment, but for fixing the appearance of new formations on the skin.
- Use only permitted antipyretic drugs to normalize elevated body temperature.
- Regularly ventilate the room in which the child is located, it is advisable to ensure a constant flow of air into the room.
- Be sure to deal with fever and excessive sweating, such factors can trigger increased itching.
- Be sure to cut the child’s nails as short as possible, because he can comb the formation, which will lead to scars or scars, infection and the development of inflammation.
Chickenpox vaccination for children: positive and negative reviews
Let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages of chickenpox vaccination. First, we list the positive aspects of vaccination, which are called by specialists and parents in their reviews. So, injections:
- Do not require compliance with the incubation period after injections. The child can contact with peers, attend schools, travel to the sea.
- Viral and catarrhal diseases transferred after vaccination do not affect the formation of stable immunity to chickenpox pathogens.
- An injection can be made after contact with an infected person, which will help to weaken the course of the disease or prevent it.
- It is possible to vaccinate against chickenpox on the same day with the introduction of drugs from another disease (except for BCG, mantoux).
- The drugs conditionally protect the child from chickenpox for a period of up to about 20 years.
Negative moments, of course, also a lot. So, the disadvantages of administering drugs for this disease are:
- The immunity is unstable (up to 20 years) and incomplete (the child may get sick, but will suffer an ailment in a mild form). Most of the negative reviews about this vaccine are associated with this particular moment; many parents consider it to be useless.
- The risk of complications from vaccination.
- The presence of a number of contraindications.
- The need for re-vaccination when using certain drugs for a particular category of patients (children from 12 years old, adults).
Whether it is worth vaccinating a child with chickenpox, each specific parent decides, it is likely that your baby will be able to do without another trip to a specialist, calmly recover from an illness in childhood and, thanks to persistent immunity, have no problems in the future. However, if you are at risk, you need to think about the possibility of vaccination. If your child does not get chickenpox before 10-12 years, the introduction of drugs from it can help prevent serious negative consequences.