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‘Chickenpox parties’ not the way to go, doctor says

Vaccine available to combat contagious disease
Allie Ware
‘Chickenpox parties’ not the way to go, doctor says

Vaccine available to combat contagious disease

CHICKENPOX IS A HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS DISEASE THAT MANY PEOPLE CAN REMEMBER GETTIN ITCHING AND SPOTS WHEN IT WAS GONE UP UNTIL THE 90S THERE WAS NOTHING TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING CHICKEN POX. BUT IN 1995 THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL APPROVED A VACCINATION. THE VACCINATION STILL GIVES YOU THE LIVES VIRUS BUT IT LAYS DORMANT. KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR MADE HEADLINES EARLIER THIS YEAR. IT WASN'T FOR HIS CHILDREN NOT BEING VACCINATED BUT INSTEAD BECAUSE HE SAID HE TOOK THEM TO A CHICKEN POX PARTY SO THEY COULD ALL GET THE DISEASE AT THE SAME TIM FROM GOVERNOR ONE LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN SAYS HE WOULD NEVER SUGGEST A CHICKEN POX PARTY NOW THAT THERE IS A VACCIN SUGGEST A CHICKEN POX PARTY NOW THAT THERE IS A VACCIN THE WILD TYPE OF CHICKEN POX TH PEOPLE GET HAS SO MANY MORE RISKS LIKE SKIN INFECTION, CEPHILITAS, BRAIN INFECTIONS THAN JUST GETTING THE VACCINE. ACCORDING TO THE C-D-C IN THE EARLY 1990S, AN AVERAGE OF 4 MILLION PEOPLE GOT CHICKENPOX THOSE COMPLICATIONS USED TO HOSPITALIZE 10-15 THOUSAND CHILDREN ANNUALLY AND NOW WE HAVE MUCH FEWER HOSPITALIAZATION S. THE CHICKEN POX VACCINE IS GIVEN IN TWO DOSES THE FIRST AT 12 MONTHS AND THE SECOND BEFORE A CHILD ENTERS KINDERGARTEN. DR SCOGGIN SAYS THE VACCINE ALSO PROTECTS PEOPLE MOST AT RISK LIKE INFANTS, PREGNANT WOMEN, AND PEOPLE WITH A WEAK IMMUNE SYSTEM. YOU CAN IMAGINE A YOUNG BABY WITH UP TO 500 BLISTERS ON THEIR BODY IT CAN BE DEBILITATING FOR THEM. DR. SCOGGIN ALSO SAYS THE VACCINE CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF SHINGLES LATER IN LIFE. HE ADDS THAT PARENT'S ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE NOT TO VACCINATE. BUT IT IS REQUIRED TO DO SO BY MOST MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS BEFORE CHILDREN C BE ALLOWED INTO THE CLASSROOM. THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS SOME VA
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‘Chickenpox parties’ not the way to go, doctor says

Vaccine available to combat contagious disease
Allie Ware
Chickenpox has been around for centuries, but the vaccine is fairly new and doctors say it does more than just prevent the itchy rash and blisters.Kentucky’s governor recently came under fire for taking his children to a chickenpox party. Gov. Matt Bevin said he took his children to the party so they would all get chickenpox at the same time.A Jackson pediatrician said that isn’t the best idea.“The vaccination still gives you the chickenpox virus, but it lays dormant,” said Dr. Darren Scoggin, with the Children’s Medical Group-Jackson.In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved a chickenpox vaccine. “The wild type of chickenpox that people get has so many more risks, like skin infection, brain infections -- than just getting the vaccine,” Scoggin said.In the early 1990s, an average of 4 million people got chickenpox, according to the CDC.“Those complications used to hospitalize 10,000 to 15,000 children annually, and now we have much fewer hospitalizations,” Scoggin said.The chickenpox vaccine is given in two doses. The first is at 12 months and the second is administered before a child enters kindergarten. Scoggin said the vaccine also protects people most at risk, like infants, pregnant women and people with a weak immune system.“You can imagine a young baby with up to 500 blisters on their body. It can be debilitating for them,” Scoggin said.Scoggin said the vaccine can also reduce the risk of shingles later in life. Scoggin said parents absolutely have the right to choose not to vaccinate, but it is required by most Mississippi schools before children will be allowed into the classroom. The Mississippi State Department of Health said some vaccination exemptions are allowed, but are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must meet certain medical guidelines. In Mississippi, more than 99 percent of the population gets the required vaccinations.
JACKSON, Miss. —

Chickenpox has been around for centuries, but the vaccine is fairly new and doctors say it does more than just prevent the itchy rash and blisters.

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Kentucky’s governor recently came under fire for taking his children to a chickenpox party. Gov. Matt Bevin said he took his children to the party so they would all get chickenpox at the same time.

A Jackson pediatrician said that isn’t the best idea.

“The vaccination still gives you the chickenpox virus, but it lays dormant,” said Dr. Darren Scoggin, with the Children’s Medical Group-Jackson.

In 1995, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved a chickenpox vaccine.

“The wild type of chickenpox that people get has so many more risks, like skin infection, brain infections -- than just getting the vaccine,” Scoggin said.

In the early 1990s, an average of 4 million people got chickenpox, according to the CDC.

“Those complications used to hospitalize 10,000 to 15,000 children annually, and now we have much fewer hospitalizations,” Scoggin said.

The chickenpox vaccine is given in two doses. The first is at 12 months and the second is administered before a child enters kindergarten. Scoggin said the vaccine also protects people most at risk, like infants, pregnant women and people with a weak immune system.

“You can imagine a young baby with up to 500 blisters on their body. It can be debilitating for them,” Scoggin said.

Scoggin said the vaccine can also reduce the risk of shingles later in life.

Scoggin said parents absolutely have the right to choose not to vaccinate, but it is required by most Mississippi schools before children will be allowed into the classroom. The Mississippi State Department of Health said some vaccination exemptions are allowed, but are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must meet certain medical guidelines.

In Mississippi, more than 99 percent of the population gets the required vaccinations.