Many had met chickenpox, if they themselves didn’t get sick, then they saw symptoms of the disease at their relatives, friends or relatives. Abundant rashes that are densely stained with brilliant green, it is simply impossible not to notice. Pathology is considered a childhood infection and it is better to get chickenpox in school or kindergarten years. Adults tolerate the disease much worse and the likelihood of serious complications. But at present there is an opportunity to avoid infection, for this vaccination against chickenpox is carried out.
What is chickenpox?
The causative agent of the disease is the Zoster virus. Transmitted by airborne droplets. Before the onset of symptoms, an incubation period takes place, which takes 10-14 days. You can recognize chickenpox by the following signs:
- Skin rashes appear. At the same time, you can see small red spots and bursting bubbles with the formation of crusts.
- Body temperature rises.
- Fatigue is observed.
- Appetite is lost.
If the disease develops in children, then complications rarely develop, which can not be said about the adult population. Vaccination against chickenpox for adults will help to avoid the disease.
The need for immunization
This preventive measure helps protect the body against chickenpox virus infection. If vaccination against chickenpox has not been carried out by adults, then the following complications are likely to develop:
- Chickenpox encephalitis. Zoster virus is able to destroy brain cells, which leads to impaired sensitivity, loss of vision, the development of paralysis.
- Damage to the skin. When the bursting bubbles are infected, a bacterial infection joins and dermatitis develops, after which noticeable scars remain on the skin.
- Shingles. The chickenpox virus is able to penetrate into the nervous tissue and infect the ganglia. With a decrease in immunity, the pathogen can be activated and provoke the development of shingles.
- The virus is able to infect the lung tissue, causing the development of pneumonia.
- Blood poisoning is possible in severe cases of the disease. If you do not provide timely assistance, then a fatal outcome is possible.
In adults, the disease often causes complications, so vaccination against chickenpox for adults is necessary if the child did not get sick in childhood.
Childhood vaccination
Children are vaccinated against chickenpox if the child has reached the age of one. This requires parental consent. Doctors recommend that children with chronic pathologies be vaccinated. The entry of chickenpox virus into the body leads to a decrease in immunity and exacerbation of diseases.
It is necessary to vaccinate children before entering a preschool. The vaccine administered can protect against chickenpox throughout life. If the vaccine is given in adolescence, then the protection that is being formed is not always 100% effective, so revaccination will be needed.
For adults, vaccination is recommended.
If an adult in childhood did not suffer from this disease, then chickenpox vaccination is recommended without fail shown in the following cases:
- If you are planning a pregnancy. The virus can disrupt the development of the fetus, which will lead to birth defects. Vaccination is recommended to pass 3-4 months before the planned conception.
- In the presence of immunodeficiency.
- To medical workers who, by the nature of their activity, are forced to contact sick patients.
- In the presence of leukemia in remission.
- Persons working with children.
- Patients with severe chronic ailments.
- With diabetes.
- In the presence of high blood pressure.
- After contact with an infected person.
Chickenpox vaccination is indicated at any age, for the formation of immunity it is necessary to introduce two doses of the drug.
The pros for vaccination
In many countries, chickenpox vaccination is mandatory, in our country it is included in the vaccination calendar, but it is optional, and children are vaccinated only at the request of their parents.
There is still heated debate about the need for vaccination, some believe that this is 100% protection against dangerous diseases, and there are those who hold the opposite opinion.
The following can be argued for vaccination:
- Chickenpox in preschool age most often occurs in babies easily and without complications, but is it possible to be 100% sure that your child will not have a disease with high fever, joint pain, stomatitis. There is a pattern, the older the child, the more severe the disease.
- The virus does not leave the body even after the illness, and after several years it can lead to the development of shingles. Pathology is manifested by skin rashes, pain, which are difficult to eliminate even with the help of analgesics. Vaccination against chickenpox promotes the formation of antibodies, the virus itself does not remain in the nerve cells.
- Traces of chickenpox can disfigure a child’s skin. Young children cannot tolerate itching and scratch wounds, which leads to the formation of scars and scars that remain for life.
- Even in children, complications in the form of pneumonia or encephalitis cannot be ruled out.
- Emergency vaccination against chickenpox will save from infection by contact with a sick person, if done within 72 hours.
- The introduced vaccine in childhood provides the formation of stable immunity in 95% of cases. In adolescence and in adults, this indicator is 75-80%, but revaccination can bring it to 99%.
- Vaccination before planning a pregnancy will protect the baby in the first six months of life from infection.
There are good reasons not to think about the need for chickenpox vaccination for children.
What vaccine opponents say
Those who oppose vaccination have their own reasons:
- Preschool children easily tolerate the disease. Some parents even specially take their baby to visit those whose children have chickenpox to get sick with pathology. In this case, vaccination after chickenpox will protect against re-infection in adulthood.
- Due to the fact that the vaccine against chickenpox is not mandatory, it must be paid to parents.
- Some mothers believe that the vaccine does not protect the baby 100% from infection. This is possible, but the number of cases does not exceed 1%.
Judging from the above, the arguments for vaccination are much more significant. You should not risk the health of your baby, it is better to get vaccinated.
Contraindications to vaccination
The benefits of vaccination have been considered, but there are contraindications for vaccination. These include:
- Infectious disease at the time of vaccination.
- Chronic pathologies in the stage of relapse.
- Intestinal or respiratory infections. Vaccination is allowed to be done only after full recovery.
- You can not be vaccinated with meningitis.
- The state of severe immunodeficiency. This often happens with AIDS, cancer pathologies or while taking drugs from the corticosteroid group.
- If there is surgery and immediately after it.
- With increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.
- If blood preparations or immunoglobulins were administered prior to vaccination.
These are categorical contraindications, but there are situations when vaccination is allowed, but strict medical supervision is required:
- There are diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- There was a convulsive readiness in the anamnesis.
- Reduced immunity.
- There was an allergy to other vaccines.
Such conditions require monitoring the condition of the child or adult for several days after the vaccination.
Features of vaccination
You can find out where to get vaccinated against chickenpox in an adult from your local doctor. Vaccination is done using foreign drugs. The following medications are used:
1. "Varilrix." A Belgian product made on the basis of attenuated viral particles. The vaccine is great for emergency vaccination after contact with a sick person. To form a stable immunity, it is recommended to introduce a double dose with an interval of 2-3 months. You can not use the vaccine:
- With leukemia and AIDS.
- With exacerbation of chronic diseases.
- Against the background of colds.
- For pregnant and lactating mothers.
You can not combine a vaccine with vaccines against rabies and BCG.
2. The vaccine Okavax. French drug based on live viruses. The vaccine has a minimum of side effects, it is used to vaccinate children and adults. You can not enter the drug:
- Pregnant women.
- With exacerbation of chronic diseases.
- If there is an individual intolerance.
After administering the vaccine, immunoglobulins or blood products cannot be administered for a month, if this is not avoided, then revaccination is required after a month. You cannot combine Okavax with BCG vaccine, the time interval between them should be at least a month.
Vaccine response
Most often, children and adults tolerate the vaccine well, local reactions may occur:
- Slight swelling.
- Itching
- Redness of the skin.
After vaccination, the injection site may rise slightly above the skin, hurt, but these reactions are within the normal range and are not considered complications.
Symptoms after vaccination requiring medical attention
Quite rarely, in only 0.1% of cases, general symptoms can also be observed, which are most often associated with the individual characteristics of the body of a child or adult:
- Elevated body temperature.
- Skin rashes characteristic of chickenpox, but they quickly disappear.
- Severe itching of the skin.
- Weakness.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
Such symptoms may appear 7-20 days after vaccination.
Vaccination Complications
Very rarely, complications are possible against the background of the introduction of the vaccine. The drug does not pose a danger to the body, so the appearance of problems is often due to a violation of the storage conditions of the vaccine or improper administration. Complications can also develop if the existing contraindications have not been taken into account. The consequences could be:
- Encephalitis develops.
- Shingles.
- Joint inflammation.
- Polymorphic eczema.
- Pneumonia.
Such complications are extremely rare, therefore, can not serve as a justification for refusing the procedure
Possibility of infection after vaccination
Chickenpox infection after vaccination cannot be ruled out 100%. But statistics cite data that only 1% of vaccinees are re-infected. But in this case, the disease proceeded easily and without complications.
Some people consider the appearance of a characteristic rash for chickenpox after vaccination, but this is not right. This is just proof of the active work of the immune system to produce antibodies against the virus.
Where to get chickenpox vaccination
You can get a vaccine against chickenpox in a medical institution at the place of residence. You can turn to a private clinic for this reason (for example, in Moscow you can go to “ON CLINIC”, “Miracle Doctor”, “K-Medicine”) or the vaccination center. But before vaccination, it is better to visit a pediatrician with the child, if an adult is vaccinated, it is recommended to visit a therapist to exclude contraindications.
Get vaccinated or get sick? Opinions of doctors
It is difficult to answer this question, for this it is necessary to consider the pros and cons of immunization. Doctors highlight the following benefits:
- Minimal risk of infection.
- Vaccination can be combined with other vaccinations, with the exception of BCG, Mantoux and rabies vaccination.
- There is a possibility of emergency vaccination.
- Prevents the development of complications.
- It forms immunity for 20 years.
But it is impossible not to say about the shortcomings:
- There is a small chance of infection after vaccination.
- Revaccination is required.
- Since the vaccine contains a live virus, after vaccination a person can infect others.
- There are contraindications.
- There is a risk of complications after vaccination.
Each adult has the right to decide on vaccination. When it comes to children, such a responsible decision rests with the parents. It is necessary to listen to the recommendations of doctors who are strongly advised to vaccinate those who are at risk. This will avoid dangerous complications, and, sometimes, save from death.