Contact: Pam Udall
phone: (512) 370-1382
cell: (512) 413-6807
Pam Udall
Brent Annear
phone: (512) 370-1381
cell: (512) 656-7320
Brent Annear
The physicians of the Texas Medical Association (TMA) want parents to know that one chickenpox vaccination may not be enough to protect their child.
Physicians from TMA's "Be Wise - Immunize SM " advisory panel join other national health experts in recommending a second shot of vaccine to prevent the potentially deadly disease.
"A two-dose series will be more effective than one and will reduce the number of breakthrough infections," said Ari Brown, MD, a leading member of TMA's Be Wise - Immunize program. Breakthrough infections occur when the patient is partially protected but not enough to prevent a mild case of the disease from occurring.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now recommending a second chickenpox, or varicella, vaccination, primarily for children four to six years old. However, they also suggest adolescents, adults, and HIV-infected children receive a second shot. For the past 11 years, one chickenpox vaccination was the recommendation.
Physicians suggest children between the ages of four and six receive the second shot at least three months after receiving the first. People over the age of six can catch up by receiving the second shot anytime.
"I have always viewed the vaccine as a win-win: Either you are completely protected or you get a milder case than you would if you were not vaccinated," says Dr. Brown, an Austin pediatrician. She urges every person over the age of four to get the second shot of chickenpox vaccine.
As recently as a decade ago, many children suffered from lesions, itchiness, missed school days, and in some cases even death, from chickenpox. According to the CDC, more than 1,000 Texans endured serious cases each year prior to the introduction of the vaccine.
"People have the perception that chickenpox is not a serious disease because most adults remember having it as a kid," adds Dr. Brown. "But I had the unfortunate experience of caring for an unvaccinated child in the early 1990s, who died from it. It's a disease I don't want any of my own children or patients to ever get."
Patients should double check their child immunization record and talk to their physician if they have any questions.
In 2004, TMA launched the Be Wise - Immunize public health program in an effort to increase Texas' childhood immunization rates and to educate parents and guardians that immunizations are important, effective, and safe.
TMA is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing more than 41,000 physician and medical student members. It is located in Austin and has 120 component county medical societies around the state. TMA's key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans.
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Be Wise - Immunize is a service mark of the Texas Medical Association.