HIQA asks Irish parents to have their say on adding chicken pox jab to vaccine schedule

A public consultation on the addition of the chickenpox vaccine to the routine childhood immunisation schedule has been launched. 

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is encouraging Irish parents to have their say on a draft Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness of expanding the schedule. 

Chickenpox is a highly contagious acute infectious disease most commonly seen in children under 10 years old, with one infected person having the potential to infect 10 to 12 others. 

Although it is usually mild, it can lead to serious complications requiring hospitalisation or shingles later in life after reactivation of the virus. 

Currently over 55,000 cases are reported every year in Ireland. 

HIQA's Chief Scientist, Dr Conor Teljeur, said, "Vaccines against chickenpox have been available for over 30 years. In Ireland, the vaccine is already recommended for non-immune individuals in certain risk groups.

"Many countries include vaccination against chickenpox in their childhood immunisation schedules; however, the type of vaccine given, the number of doses and the timing of the doses differ." 

Children in Ireland currently receive fourteen vaccines in their first 13 months of life as part of the standard schedule, with the chicken pox (varicella) vaccine available to anyone over 12 months old for a fee. 

Dr Teljeur continued: "From reviewing the evidence, HIQA found that the chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective. Including it in the childhood immunisation programme would reduce the occurrence of chickenpox and would substantially reduce severe disease including hospitalisations.

"Vaccination is likely to represent a good use of healthcare resources and, when the broader cost to society of chickenpox is taken into account, vaccination is cost saving." 

HIQA is inviting members of the public to provide feedback on the HTA until Monday May 29, 2023. 

Following this consultation, the report will be updated as necessary based on the feedback received and will be subject to approval by the Board of HIQA. 

It will then be provided as advice to the Minister for Health to inform a decision on whether or not to add the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine to the routine schedule. 

You can participate in the public consultation here.