Thousands of New Zealand children will be entitled to the chickenpox vaccine after it becomes funded by Pharmac on July 1.
The varicella vaccine, which prevents chickenpox, will be free for children aged 15 months and be one of four injections given at that age, including vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, haemophilus influenza and pneumococcal disease.
It will also be available to children turning 11 years old from July who have never been infected with or previously immunised against chickenpox.
Chickenpox causes a prominent rash, itchiness and feelings of ill health, and can cause scarring and complications that can require hospital treatment.
About 60,000 children are born in New Zealand each year and all will be eligible for the funded vaccine.
Pharmac Director of Operations Sarah Fitt says the decision will have wide benefits for children, their families and the wider New Zealand health system.
“For most children chickenpox is a mild illness, but it is highly infectious and can cause serious complications. It also causes disruption to families through time off work and school, and through people having to give up activities to care for sick children,” she says.
“As well as benefits to children and their families and whānau, it will lead to a reduction of about 9600 GP visits each year, about 2400 fewer hospital emergency department visits, and approximately 250 hospitalisations.”
This was seen in Australia where the hospitalisation rate for children with chickenpox-related complications reduced 75 per cent after the introduction of a universal varicella vaccination.
