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After testing successfully, health authorities began a comprehensive vaccination regime with the varicella vaccine against chickenpox in 1995. Medical personnel have been dismayed to observe the continuing incidence of chicken pox in a percentage of vaccinated children.
By some accounts, the varicella vaccine has been a success. Incidence rates have dropped 85% since the inoculation campaign began, and deaths per year stemming from the illness have been reduced from 124 in 1994 to 26 in 2001. Still, parents are wondering why the vaccines promised effectiveness has not transpired.
A recent study by the New England Journal of Medicine found that a single dose (The current accepted dosage regime) does not provide full immunity in as many as 20% of patients. This can unfortunately lead to older children than were previously seen developing the condition; which is worrisome, as the severity of the symptoms increases with age of onset.
The federal government is now recommending that patients receive a second booster shot of the vaccine, hoping that this will increase the effectiveness of the program. Medical officials are concerned that there will be an emerging group of adolescents and young adults susceptible to the disease; a group who are more likely to require hospitalization while suffering from a more severe symptomology.
Many health experts are questioning whether a chickenpox vaccine is a good idea. Previously, the vast majority of people contracted the chickenpox as young children, an age when the disease usually presents few symptoms, and incidence of complications is very low. But since parents are left to care for their sick young children, often missing work to do so, the vaccine has been enormously popular, with caregivers eager to avoid the troublesome disease.
Health officials are monitoring the situation and hope to develop a successful vaccination regime to eradicate this disease once and for all.
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