- The ARC - California Edition -

Vaccine to Prevent Chicken Pox Does Work

Historically, almost everyone got chicken pox by the time they reached adulthood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Chicken pox is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus and most often presents a mild disease. For babies and persons with impaired immune systems, however, the disease can have a severe impact. 

The virus most often strikes young children. It causes a victim to have a characteristically itchy rash, coupled with a fever and a general malaise. Touch or airborne droplets spread this highly contagious disease. Chicken pox is contagious for one to two days before the rash appears and until all blisters have formed scabs. Chicken pox most often develops within 21 days after contact with an infected person.

In March 1995, a new vaccine for chicken pox (Varicella zoster virus) was approved for general use and it was predicted to be a very safe and very effective vaccine. With the introduction of the vaccine, CDC funded a study in order to verify the actual population-based performance during the phase-in of the vaccine. 

Three regions nationwide were selected to be surveyed for a period of five years. One of the candidates selected was Antelope Valley, which is located in the northern part of the county of Los Angeles. The study area is centered about 70 miles directly north of the city of Los Angeles.

The Antelope Valley portion of the implementation study recently reported status concerning their on-going monitoring effort. They reported to have determined that the initial phase-in of the inoculation program has reduced chicken pox within the Antelope Valley region by 80 percent. 

During the study period, the LA county health officials recorded 2,934 chicken pox cases within Antelope Valley during 1995, compared to 587 cases in 1999. The region of the valley has about 300,000 residents. The other regions in this study are west Philadelphia, PA, and Travis county, TX.

In the California part of this national study, these findings were a component that relies on a “voluntary program” for obtaining the Varicella vaccine as California will not be requiring chicken pox vaccinations until next year for children entering its schools or day care facilities. This is typical of the current national situation as only half of the states have yet passed legislation to require the Varicella vaccine for school children.

The researchers conducting the study have reported that the vaccine is presenting a very good economic and social value. During 1995, victims and their caretakers had missed 14,842 days of work and school. During 1999, the similar group had missed only 2,718 days of work and school, a decrease of 82%.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC recommends that children be vaccinated for the chicken pox ailment at aged 12 to 18 months.

Effective medications are available to treat chicken pox in healthy and immunocompromised persons (e.g., those with cancers, HIV/AIDS, receiving medication that depress the immune system)

(For more information about Varicella, contact the CDC hotline at 1-800-232-2522)