LOCAL children are now eligible for the chickenpox vaccine.
Health chiefs from the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board described the news as a “really positive step”.
It will be offered to children born after 1st July 2024 as part of a combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine at 12 and 18 months of age.
There will also be a single dose catch-up vaccination available for children aged up to six who have missed a dose and have not had chickenpox before.
Matthew Missen, consultant in public health for the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board, said:
“This is a really positive step for families across our area.
“The chickenpox vaccine has been safely used for decades and is already part of the routine vaccine schedules in several countries, including Canada, Australia and Germany.
“While many people think of chickenpox as a mild childhood illness, it is highly contagious and can cause serious complications for some people.
“By introducing this vaccine locally, we can help protect more children, reduce absences from nursery and school, and ease the impact on health services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”
Heather Johnstone, NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board’s chief nursing officer, said:
“Children, especially those with underlying health conditions, are regularly admitted to hospital with complications from chickenpox. The introduction of the varicella vaccine will make a real difference in preventing these cases and ensuring children stay healthy.
“It’s really important that families take up the offer of vaccination when invited, as it provides the best protection for their children and helps stop the spread of the illness to more vulnerable people in the community.”
From this month, parents and carers will will receive invitations when their child is due to have the chickenpox vaccine.
For information about the vaccine, visit www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/mmrv-vaccine.
