Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have found that two doses of chicken pox vaccine are better than one.
Researchers at the Yale School of Medicine have found that two doses of chicken pox vaccine are better than one.
In fact, the chances of developing chicken pox were 95% lower in children who had received two doses of the vaccine compared to those who had received just one dose. In India, however, children are vaccined with a single dosage against chicken pox.
However, experts said that research based on US scenario, may not always hold true in Indian context. “In India, we don't have adequate data about chicken pox to suggest anything about the second dosage. Moreover, chicken pox is quite an endemic in India, thus creating herd immunity among the community. Thus, a single dose may be enough here," said Dr Kishore Kumar, paediatrician and chairman and MD, The Cradles.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, began recommending a single dose of chicken pox vaccine for children between one and 13 years of age in 1995. The disease rate fell drastically and studies showed that the effectiveness of one dose was 86%. But there was still a high rate of breakthrough illness in immunised children. The CDC changed the immunisation policy for chicken pox in 2006, adding a second dose for children between four and six. In this study, it was revealed that the effectiveness of two doses was 98.3%.
However, in India, the scenario is totally different. "In foreign countries, there is a universal policy of vaccinating all children for chicken pox by the age of 14 to 15 months. However, in India, chicken pox vaccine doesn't form part of the National Immunisation Schedule. Moreover, since the vaccine is costly, not everyone can afford it. Thus chicken pox virus still exists in the community," said Dr Preethi Galagali, paediatric consultant, Chord Road Hospital and member of Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
Indian kids, who have been vaccinated and yet get exposed to the chicken pox virus, are said to have better immunity level. Thus, while there are several cases of children getting chicken pox even after getting vaccinated, the intensity of the disease is milder with low fever and no scars. Otherwise for children who are not vaccinated, and are between 1 and 12 years of age, the disease can get severe, added Galagali. “Thus, Indian Academy of Paediatricians does not recommend a second dosage of the vaccine as of now,” she said.
At least five to 10 per cent of the children, who have already been vaccinated, fall prey to chicken pox, confirmed Dr Aravind Shenoy, HoD, pediatrics, Manipal Hospital. “While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends five to 10 years of age as the right time for a second dosage of chicken pox vaccine, research needs to be done to find the right time for their Indian counterparts. Also in India, February-March-April is the time for chicken pox, as well as the board exams,” he said. Again, since this vaccine is expensive, not every child can afford it, he added.
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