In the article, we will talk about the vaccination against chickenpox for a child.
In our country, this pathology is considered to be a fairly mild infectious disease for children, but it can be very difficult to tolerate by some children, especially in cases where the child's immunity is weakened or he has some kind of chronic disease.
In addition, probably every parent has heard that with age, the course of this pathology becomes more severe, and if the baby does not suffer from smallpox in childhood, this infection can become deadly in adulthood. And because many parents are concerned about the prevention of chickenpox.
One of the most effective measures that help avoid infection is considered a vaccine against this infection.
To find out if a child needs chickenpox vaccination, you should ask what this vaccine is, what are the medicines called, which are used, how it is transferred, etc.
Do I need to be vaccinated against chickenpox?
Children are vaccinated against chickenpox in many countries of the world, for example, in Europe and the USA. Such vaccination is mandatory for all babies. In Russia, such vaccination, although included in the vaccination schedule, is considered only additional. And so most children are vaccinated against chickenpox only at the request of their parents. Thus, the vaccine against this disease is not mandatory and is carried out for a fee.
Despite the fact that at the age of 2-7 years, chickenpox often proceeds quite easily, but no child is immune from the complex course of the disease with fever, vomiting, stomatitis, aching joints, damage to the mucous eyes, profuse rashes and other symptoms. The older the child, the more difficult this disease goes.
The virus that causes chickenpox does not leave the body of an ill patient, and at the age of more than 40 years it often causes shingles. This pathology is manifested by rashes and severe pain, which is difficult to eliminate with the help of analgesics. During vaccination, specific antibodies are formed in the body, but the virus itself does not remain in the nerve endings.
The pros
On the skin, especially if the baby is sick at an early age, scars and scars may remain, because the rash is very itchy, and children comb the skin to sores. A timely vaccination against chickenpox will leave the child's skin perfectly smooth.
A disease can cause life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis. Vaccination will also help to rule out their occurrence.
Therefore, the question of whether a child needs chickenpox vaccination is relevant.
If you vaccinate against this infection within three days after contact with a sick patient, you can avoid infection. Therefore, if parents are worried whether it is possible to vaccinate a child after such contacts, then there is only one answer - this is not only allowed, but even recommended by many pediatricians.
The chickenpox vaccine is highly immunogenic. With the introduction of this vaccine under the age of 5 years, protection is provided in approximately 95% of children. After a single administration of vaccines to adolescents and adults, only 78% of those vaccinated become immune, and after a second vaccination, the virus immunity increases to 99%.
Vaccination during pregnancy planning protects the woman from the transmission of the virus to the fetus and provides protection for the newborn for six months after birth. If a woman becomes infected with chickenpox during pregnancy, this is often fraught with serious malformations of the fetus or severe congenital chickenpox. If the future mother who had not previously had chickenpox vaccinated before conception, she will avoid such consequences and in the future she herself will not be infected with this dangerous infection.
Vaccination is considered the main method of protection against all complications of the disease.
Cons
The bulk of cases of chickenpox in children under 7 years of age is characterized by a mild course, so many parents prefer that their children get it and even specially bring their child to sick babies. Since vaccination against this infection is optional, the purchase of a vaccine and the payment of a medical procedure rests entirely with the parents.
Many of them have doubts that the likelihood of illness after vaccination is extremely low. In fact, infection with chickenpox in this case is also possible, however, the number of children who develop pathology after the introduction of the vaccine is only 1%. In this case, the infectious process proceeds very easily and passes on its own without treatment.
Recommendations of Dr. Komarovsky
A well-known pediatrician is positive about vaccination against chicken pox and believes that dads and mothers who decided to vaccinate their child against this infection are doing the right thing, since even in prosperous countries, fatal cases of chickenpox sometimes occur. Komarovsky considers vaccination of chickenpox especially important for children with immunodeficiencies, heart defects, glomerulonephritis and cancer. With such pathologies, the disease is extremely dangerous.
When children are vaccinated against chickenpox, many parents are interested.
Indications for
To be vaccinated against chicken pox is recommended for everyone (both adults and children) who have not suffered this infectious disease. It is especially important to protect yourself from the virus when planning pregnancy, to kindergarten and school workers.
Some parents are wondering if a chickenpox vaccine should be given to a child who is already ill. Pediatricians argue that this is not necessary, since the disease leaves the child with lifelong immunity and in the majority of cases does not develop again.
At what age is it carried out?
So, when are children vaccinated against chickenpox? Specialists recommend vaccinating children against chickenpox at the age of 2 years. WHO advises that this vaccine be given at the age of 1 year, simultaneously with the vaccine against rubella, mumps and measles.
How long does the vaccine last?
Scientific studies have revealed that in most cases, the chickenpox vaccine forms a stable immunity in childhood until the end of life. However, abroad, this vaccine is repeated once every 10-12 years for more stable protection against the causative agent of infection.
Contraindications
Vaccination against chicken pox is not carried out in the following cases:
- If the child is sick with SARS or intestinal infection (after such diseases, medical attention is required for a period of 3-4 weeks).
- The baby is undergoing chemotherapy.
- The child received a blood transfusion (3 months must pass before the moment of vaccination).
- The baby has exacerbated chronic pathology (vaccination is allowed only during the period of stable remission).
- The child has undergone meningitis or immunoglobulins have been administered to him (in such cases, the vaccine is given at least 6 months later).
- The baby is allergic to the components of the drug.
- The child is diagnosed with severe leukopenia.
The question of vaccination for pathologies of the liver, heart, kidneys, blood-forming organs, as well as for allergic reactions or other pathological conditions after vaccines previously administered should be decided with a doctor individually for each child.
How is it carried?
The chickenpox vaccine is considered one of the easiest for the child's body. The reaction of most babies after administration of this vaccine does not include side effects. Only a small number of babies at the injection site have redness, soreness and slight swelling. Such adverse reactions occur, as a rule, within a few days after vaccination and pass on their own in 1-2 days.
In addition, some common symptoms are possible, which develop from 7 to 21 days after vaccination:
- slight deterioration in overall health, weakness;
- the formation of a rash on the skin, as with chickenpox;
- increase in body temperature;
- development of skin itching;
- slight soreness and enlarged lymph nodes.
The above symptoms do not require therapeutic measures and disappear on their own.
If you do not take into account contraindications for vaccination, after vaccination, the baby may develop the following complications:
- herpes zoster;
- exudative erythema;
- thrombocytopenia;
- impaired nerve sensitivity;
- joint damage;
- encephalitis.
Immediately after the vaccination procedure, the baby may develop a short-term malaise, which independently passes within a day.
Medicines used
From chickenpox, vaccination is carried out with the following drugs:
- Varilrix is a Belgian product that has been used in Russia since 2008. It is presented in the form of a powder in a vial, to which is attached a syringe filled with a special liquid.
- Okavax is a vaccine that is available in France and has been used in Russia since 2010. This drug is produced in the form of two vials, the first of which contains a dried virus, and the second contains a dilution liquid.
In addition to the weakened chickenpox virus, these vaccines contain elements such as the antibiotic neomycin, gelatin, sucrose, sodium chloride, monosodium glutamate, EDTA and other substances. Both medicines are safe for children and effectively protect against the development of chickenpox. When vaccinated against chicken pox, it is important to find out in advance.
How is it carried out?
If the vaccine is given to a child under 13 years old, then a strong immune defense can form even after one vaccination. In adolescence after 13 years and adult patients need two doses, which are administered with an interval of 6-10 weeks.
The chickenpox vaccine is injected subcutaneously into the deltoid region of the brachial muscle, but intramuscular administration of the vaccine is also permitted. You can put the vaccine in the area under the scapula. Intravenous administration of these vaccines is strictly prohibited.
Compatibility with other vaccines
At the same time, children can be given other inactivated vaccines, for example, vaccinations against mumps, measles and rubella. A combination with a flu vaccine is also possible in some cases, however, an inactivated preparation should be used in this case. Live influenza vaccines cannot be given at the same time as chickenpox vaccination. Vaccination against chickenpox for children is not combined with BCG.
Where do they do it?
Where to get vaccinated against chicken pox?
You can vaccinate a child in any public clinic, special center, private medical clinic or other medical institution where such procedures are allowed. These institutions employ medical specialists who will administer the vaccine to the baby without any problems.
Vaccines cost approximately 2500-4500 rubles.
Medical diversion from vaccinations for children after chickenpox
The best time for the procedure is the first 1.5 years of life. At this time, the child still has little contact with people, which means that the risk of infection and the development of the disease is low. After planned vaccinations, the children's body has the necessary strength to develop immune responses to infectious agents.
However, during the period of deterioration of the child’s health and well-being, it is better to postpone the planned procedure until the moment of recovery. The doctor, together with the parents, decides on the transfer or cancellation of these medical procedures.
Medotvod is a contraindication for vaccination, prescribed by a specialist for 3 or more months. This document is issued on the basis of a list of contraindications approved in official sources and regulations.
Contraindications differ in terms of:
- constant, when the periods of medical attention are constantly extended, and parents need to carefully monitor the health of the child;
- temporary: after the expiration of the medical period, vaccination is carried out according to an individual scheme.
This document is issued for a period of 3-6 months. Then two options are possible: the doctor’s conclusion that preventive vaccination is allowed, or the extension of the withdrawal for the next 6 months. Many parents care about the question: where and when do they take medical attention? The conclusion about the child’s health status is given by a pediatrician or specialist. Then, at the special immunological commission, they make the final decision, in accordance with the recommendations of the doctor. An appropriate mark is made in the child’s immunization record card and special vaccination journal.
Below are reviews of chickenpox vaccination for children. We learn the opinion of parents.
Reviews
Parents who vaccinated their children against chickenpox note that in most cases the babies tolerated the vaccine easily, but sometimes they developed weakness and a slight malaise. The vaccine against chickenpox is quite expensive, so not every parent can afford to do it. Such procedures were carried out mainly in district children's clinics. Parents say that chickenpox vaccination follows the same pattern as any other vaccine. Before the event, a specialist consultation is required.
We looked at how children are vaccinated against chickenpox.