Posted by Michael Wonder on 27 Jun 2017
Thousands set to benefit from PHARMAC funded chickenpox vaccine
27 June 2017 - Thousands of children a year are set to avoid chickenpox infection, with flow-on benefits to families and the wider health system, after the varicella vaccine which prevents chickenpox is funded from 1 July 2017.
Chickenpox causes a prominent rash, itchiness and feelings of ill-health, and can cause scarring and complications that can require hospital treatment.
One dose of chickenpox vaccine will be free from 1 July 2017 for children aged 15 months (that is, children born from 1 April 2016). It will also be free for children turning 11 years of age from 1 July 2017 who have never been infected with or previously immunised against chickenpox.
