This month forward, the HSE immunisation programme will include the chickenpox vaccine, which will be made available to newborns, reports RTE.
As part of the regular main childhood immunisation program, newborns at 12 months of age will receive the vaccine from their general practitioners.
The varicella zoster virus, which causes chickenpox, is extremely infectious.
A skin rash that causes itchy blisters is the disease’s hallmark, reports RTE.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee had recommended the vaccination.
According to public health experts, many parents might think of chickenpox as a minor ailment.
But for certain newborns, it may be dangerous and in rare instances, even deadly.
170 instances of chickenpox were hospitalised last year, which is the largest amount in recent memory, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
