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Chicken pox |
This vaccine is now part of the funded childhood immunisation schedule at 18 months and adolescence.
Usually chicken pox is a mild illness, occurring mainly in summer. Complications can include brain inflammation and serious pneumonias. Adults tend to feel much sicker than children, and people who have poor immune systems are at particular risk. The spots are itchy, and young children often scratch so much they get scars. Even without scratching, spots on the face can leave the familiar pockmark scars.
Chicken pox is recognisable by the itchy rash of small red spots that first appear on the face and trunk and then spread to the rest of the body. The spots become blisters, which then crust over. The virus is spread by coughing or sneezing or contact with fluid from a chicken pox sore. It is infectious for about two days before the rash appears and until the final blister crusts over about six days later. The sick person will also have a fever lasting from three to five days.
It is recommended that children receive the vaccine at 18 months of age. Children aged between nine months and 13 years receive one dose of the vaccine. Adolescents and adults 14 years and over need two doses. It is available by prescription from GPs for people for whom the vaccine is not funded and costs about $60 from the chemist.
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Recommended Australian Immunisation Schedule
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