Chickenpox news alerts

All the latest research and news
brought to you by Care Virasoothe.

Does chickenpox protect against skin condition?

August 2010

Children who get chickenpox may be less likely to develop atopic dermatitis and asthma when they're older than their peers who don't get chickenpox - including those who are vaccinated against it, suggests a new study. But vaccine experts warn that the study was limited, and that one finding shouldn't challenge the benefits of the chickenpox vaccine.

Chickenpox study could lead to new tests

June 2010

Fresh understanding of the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles may lead to improved vaccines and diagnostic tests. Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have devised a technique to separate the virus into its constituent proteins and pinpoint which proteins in the virus triggered a reaction in the body’s immune system. They discovered that certain patients respond to different proteins. These results may help create a test that offers improved sensitivity and earlier detection of infection compared with conventional tests. At present there is no test to show if an individual has acquired immunity to the virus through vaccination or a previous infection. Such a test could show whether they are at risk of chickenpox or a secondary infection, which causes shingles.

JCVI rules out childhood chickenpox jabs

April 2010

Childhood vaccination against chickenpox has been ruled out by the JCVI. The committee said it had concluded that such a vaccination programme would be neither cost effective nor epidemiologically sound. Incidence of varicella infection among under-fives has risen in the last two decades, prompting the JCVI to review vaccination strategies for chickenpox and shingles. Predictions showed that a childhood immunisation programme, combined with vaccination of older people against shingles, would reduce varicella infections, the JCVI said.
However, large numbers of breakthrough infections in adults would be expected to occur as a result of a one-dose childhood schedule. Without the immunity boost from children's exposure to varicella, incidence of shingles would increase for 40-60 years after the programme.

Why don't we vaccinate against chickenpox?

March 2010

It is peak season for chickenpox - the highly-contagious, blistering virus which for most children is unpleasant and for a very few lethal. A safe and effective vaccine is available - why don't we use it?
The varicella vaccine is available privately, but the UK's immunisation body decided last year against universal vaccination of children - as carried out in many developed countries - citing cost and the fear it could increase shingles, a reactivation of the virus, in older people.