As you know, at the beginning of September the shortage of varicella vaccines was known, which was produced in many Spanish pharmacy offices, it was a situation extended to most of the Autonomous Communities.
This week The Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, provides information documents (for professionals and families), in order to collaborate in the practice of pediatricians (in the first case), and give updated information (in the second case). It is expected that this contribution from the CAV, be useful to professionals, and help families surprised by the decision of the Spanish health authorities. We leave you with the summary contents of the document for parents.
About the disease
It is an infectious disease that has a viral cause and causes discomfort, fever and skin lesions (very itchy). It is very contagious and the contagion can be by contact or by air, from one or two days before the lesions appear, until all of them are in a crusty phase.
In general, it is a benign disease, but complications may arise that require hospital treatment or admission in one in six affected children. Although exceptional, there have also been cases of death from chickenpox in previously healthy children.
Can we avoid it in our children?
Children often get contacted by contact with another child who has not yet erupted, so, the most effective measure to prevent chickenpox is vaccination. In fact, the Spanish autonomous communities and cities and the countries that are using the chickenpox vaccine in young children have shown a large decrease in cases, complications and hospital admissions, as well as the number of deaths.
These consequences are not only seen in vaccinated children, but also in unvaccinated children and adults, who benefit from childhood vaccination (the so-called "group immunity"). The vaccine is very safe and provides benefits not only for the vaccinated child, but for the entire community.
Who recommends the vaccine?
Numerous countries (United States of America, Canada, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uriguay, Australia, Japan, North Korea, Israel, Germany, Greece, Latvia, etc.) and four Italian regions: (Puglia, Sicily, Tuscany and Veneto) , as well as various scientific societies, recommend vaccinating chickenpox to young children.
In Spain, the autonomous communities of Madrid and Navarra and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla vaccinate for years all children in the 2nd year of life, within their vaccination calendar
The Spanish Association of Pediatrics, through its Vaccine Advisory Committee, recommends vaccination of all children living in our country with 2 doses, the first at 12-15 months of life and a second dose at 2-3 years of age. This recommendation is based on the best and most rigorous scientific information currently available, which demonstrates the benefits of the chickenpox vaccine applied at these ages.
Intention to vaccinate versus inability to get the vaccine at the pharmacy
In recent months there are problems to be able to acquire the vaccine in pharmacies. This unusual fact is due to a blockade of the distribution of new vaccine items by health authorities responsible for the regulation of medicines, who, however, have not officially explained the reasons.
The shortage does not obey any reason for safety or lack of efficacy of this vaccination
This problem is not happening, at the moment, in Madrid, Navarra, Ceuta and Melilla, where they still have the vaccine in pharmacies.
We hope this information serves all families who are confused by a situation that they can't control at all, and surely they want to be resolved soon.
