Since varicella disease is usually benign, why should I get this vaccine?
Although chickenpox is generally a mild disease, it can be serious, even fatal. Prior to the availability of vaccine, about 10,000 people were hospitalized annually due to varicella or its complications, including many otherwise healthy children. About 100 deaths were reported from varicella each year, mostly among healthy children and adults. Routine varicella vaccination has been recommended since 1996. Talk with your school nurse or medical provider to find out more about varicella vaccine for you and your child. Adapted from Immunization Action Coalition, Needle Tips, 11(1).
Related Questions
- Why vaccinate children for what is usually a benign disease? Why not allow children to acquire natural infection and offer vaccine only to susceptible adolescents and adults?
- What if a student had a previous illness of the varicella disease (chickenpox), will they still need the vaccine?
- Since varicella disease is usually benign, why should I get this vaccine?
