Chickenpox Vaccine Nottingham

1
Chickenpox Vaccine Nottingham
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
2
The chickenpox (varicella) virus is highly
infectious and is usually spread in airborne
droplets when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. It can also be spread by contact with
the fluid from the chickenpox blisters. The
infection usually starts as a rash that spreads
all over the body. The rash begins as red itchy
spots that eventually become blisters. People can
spread the virus from about 1-2 days before the
rash emerges until the last rash dries up, about
a week later.
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
3
The chickenpox virus
The total number of chickenpox blisters is
usually between 250 and 500. Factors affecting
scarring include age, skin colour and whether a
separate skin infection also develops.1,3
Scarring resulting from chickenpox has been shown
to occur in approximately 19 of children with an
average of 3 scars per child.3 In many of these
cases (40) the scars are found on the face.
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
4
Chickenpox can be treated
The treatment approach to chickenpox depends on a
number of factors, including the risk of
complications to the person infected. Treatment
of chickenpox is based on treating the symptoms
and the use of antiviral agents, such as
acyclovir however, antiviral treatment has a
limited effect and must be started as soon as
possible after the rash first develops.
Prevention of infection by vaccination is the
optimum approach for the management of chickenpox.
It can be given from the age of one year onwards.
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
5
Prevention is better than cure
Its vaccine contains a weakened form of the
chickenpox virus. It works by causing the body to
make its own protection (antibodies) against the
infection. The vaccine can be administered to
healthy children 9 months of age and older. It
can be given at the same time as most other
childhood vaccinations and is administered under
the skin as a separate injection from the other
vaccines. It should, however, be remembered that
no vaccine is 100 effective in preventing
disease and that vaccination in children under
the age of 1 year is an unlicensed use of the
vaccine reserved for exceptional circumstances.
The vaccine is very well tolerated, as
demonstrated in clinical studies involving more
than 5,000 individuals.
The side effects (viral symptoms such as fever
and aching) are generally mild and usually clear
up within a few days. As with other vaccines
local reactions can occur around the injection
site such as soreness and redness.
6
The benefits of vaccination

• Avoid suffering isolation, itching, blisters
  and discomfort.

• Avoid long-term scarring of the body from
  chickenpox blisters, which can occur in 18 of
  children more than 40 of these children will
  have scarring on their face.

• Avoid hospitalisation

• Reduce the risk of shingles as an adult

Vaccination the simple solution
The chickenpox (varicella) vaccine provides
protection against the varicella zoster virus
that causes chickenpox.
7
The chickenpox vaccine is not part of the routine
childhood vaccination schedule. The vaccine is
currently only offered on the NHS to people who
are in close contact with someone who is
particularly vulnerable to chickenpox or its
complications.
Who is at risk from chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a common childhood infection. In
most cases, its mild and complications are rare.
Almost all children develop immunity to
chickenpox after infection, so they usually only
catch it once. The disease can be more severe in
adults.
Certain groups of people, however, are at greater
risk of serious complications from chickenpox.
These include people who have weakened immune
systems through an illness such as HIV or through
treatment such as chemotherapy.
8
Pregnant women. Chickenpox can be very serious
for an unborn baby when a pregnant woman catches
the infection. It can cause a range of serious
birth defects, as well as severe disease in the
baby when it is born.
How does the chickenpox vaccine work?
The chickenpox vaccine contains a small amount of
weakened live varicella zoster virus.
The vaccine causes your immune system to produce
antibodies that will help protect against
chickenpox.
Find out about chickenpox vaccine side-effects.
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
9
How is the chickenpox vaccine given?
The vaccine is given as two separate injections,
four to eight weeks apart.
Who should consider the chickenpox vaccine?
It is recommended for individuals such as certain
health care workers and people in close contact
with someone who has a weakened immune system.
This is to reduce the risk of spreading the
infection to those at risk.
For example, if you were having chemotherapy
treatment, it would be recommended that
non-immune children close to you are given the
chickenpox vaccination. The vaccine would also be
recommended if you were about to start work in a
radiotherapy department and you had no previous
history of chickenpox.
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
10
How effective is the vaccine?
It has been shown that nine out of 10 children
vaccinated with a single dose will develop
immunity against chickenpox. A two-dose schedule
is recommended, as it gives an even better immune
response.
The vaccination is not as effective after
childhood. Its estimated that three-quarters of
teenagers and adults who are vaccinated will
develop immunity against chickenpox.
If you are worried your child has a rash that
could be chickenpox, check out this childhood
rashes slideshow to see if the rash is a typical
symptom of chickenpox or another childhood
condition.
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
11
CONTACT US
ADDRESS
2 Regent St Nottingham NG1 5BQ United Kingdom
Phone [phone]
Email enquiries_at_regentstreetclinic.co.uk
www.regentstreetclinic.co.uk
12
(No Transcript)