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The future of chickenpox in Ireland could be transformed by the introduction of a vaccine for the disease into the national immunisation programme from next year, writes Michael McHale W ith a global wave of vaccine development now underway, the race is on for countries to take advantage of the benefits of immunising their population against a range of diseases. However, the recent approval in Ireland of a vaccine for a common illness has been a long time coming. The chickenpox ( varicella ) vaccine has been available since the 1970s, with several countries in Europe, as well as Australia, Canada and the US, having long implemented their own national childhood vaccination programmes.

While available privately in Ireland, it took until last year for health officials to recommend its inclusion in our own immunisation schedules. Last summer the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) found that the shot would likely be cost effective if offered to all children here. As a result, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has approved the vaccine for widespread use.



In a recent statement to Irish Medical Times, his department confirmed plans for the vaccine to be introduced into the childhood immunisation programme from next year, ‘subject to funding being made available’. Once included in the programme, the vaccine will be administered in two doses – the first at 12 months of age, and the second in the first year of primary school, mirroring the current MMR inoculation s.

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