What is chickenpox and why do we vaccinate against it?

Chickenpox is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes shingles in older adults. It’s extremely contagious and can easily spread from person to person. This can be through direct contact with the blisters, mucus, or saliva of someone who is infected. It can also be spread through droplets in the air created by coughing or sneezing.

Who is at Risk from Chickenpox?

People of any age can catch chickenpox, but most cases occur in children. Children who catch it tend to have milder symptoms than adults or in people who are considered high risk. High risk groups include the elderly, pregnant women, those with compromised immune systems, and newborns.

High risk groups are more likely to experience more severe symptoms. They may even develop serious complications that can cause life-changing symptoms or even death.

Chickenpox Symptoms

At first, those infected will feel a bit like they have a cold. These symptoms include a low-grade fever, sinus congestion, tiredness, coughing, and headache.

Within a couple of days, a rash will start to form. The rash occurs in three stages, but may not happen at the same time so it’s possible to experience all three stages at once.

In the first stage, a pink or red, bumpy rash will spread across the body, most commonly on the torso, scalp, and armpits. In the second stage, itchy blisters will form and start to break and lead. A few days later, the blisters will start to scab and dry out. The final stage usually takes the longest.

Chickenpox Complications

Serious complications from chickenpox are rare, but they do happen in both at risk groups and in otherwise healthy children and adults. In fact, a large percentage of hospitalizations are healthy children under the age of 5.

Life-threatening complications such as pneumonia or brain inflammation can be caused by chickenpox.

Other Chickenpox Complications:

• Bacterial infections of the skin and soft tissue
• Blood infections
• Streptococcal infections
• Bleeding problems
• Severe dehydration

In pregnant women, chicken pox can harm the foetus if the mother catches the virus during pregnancy. The risk to the baby is higher in the later stages of the pregnancy and shortly after birth.

How effective is the chickenpox vaccine?

Chickenpox is an easily preventable disease with the highly effective vaccine. It will prevent most people from getting chickenpox, but in the few cases where it doesn’t the symptoms will be far milder than they would be otherwise.

Not only will the vaccine save children from suffering from the uncomfortable symptoms, but it will protect high risk groups against infection. Many people are unable to get the vaccine because of health conditions, so they rely on herd immunity.

Where Can I Get the Chickenpox Vaccine?

Despite its effectiveness, the chickenpox vaccine is not generally available on the NHS. However, it can be easily and conveniently obtained through Pearl Chemist Group’s chickenpox vaccination service in Epsom. To book the chickenpox vaccine in Streatham or to find out the chickenpox vaccine cost in Wimbledon, contact us or visit our website today.