Varicella vaccine bill dies in state Senate

More than 20 states across the U.S. have passed requirements for children to receive the chickenpox vaccine before entering child care and elementary school. Indiana was trying to become a part of this group. \nState Sen. Vi Simpson D-Martinsville has tried to introduce a bill to the state legislature which would require all incoming kindergarten children to provide evidence of immunization or evidence of vaccination. The bill has died numerous times without even so much as being heard.\nSimpson, along with members of the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians, is trying to convince the legislature of the numerous benefits of the vaccine.\n"Dr. Carol Touloukian, president of the American Academy, has done extensive research -- all which has been presented -- yet the age gap in how we provide for immunizations in children still remains," Simpson said.\nThe benefits of receiving the vaccine include, less missed school or child care for children who get the disease and less days taken off work for the parents who have to take care of their infected kids. The lost time from school and work in addition to the cost of medications can be costly for families. \nThe Food and Drug Administration licensed the vaccine in 1995 and is now widely available in doctors' offices and public health clinics. All children between 12 months and 13 years of age are advised to receive one dose of the vaccine. All adults who have never had the varicella virus are advised to be vaccinated immediately.\nAccording to an information sheet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services chickenpox is extremely contagious -- it can travel through air, liquid or skin-on-skin contact. Each year, about 12, 000 people are hospitalized and about 100 people die as a result of chickenpox in the U.S.\nPam Bradley, health aid for Fairview Elementary in Bloomington, said although the vaccine hasn't been required, most of the children are already getting the vaccine.\n"In regards to absences from chicken pox, I can't say I know of even one student that has had the chicken pox," Bradley said.\nMost people who get the vaccine will not get chickenpox. However, even in the rare cases when someone does (one to two times out of ten), the symptoms will be less severe and the recovery time quicker. Vaccinated people who get the milder form of chickenpox can still spread the disease to others who are not protected. \nSome people react violently to the vaccine itself. 20 percent of people who received the vaccine reported soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was administered. Serious reactions to the vaccine including seizures, brain infection, pneumonia, loss of balance, and/or severe allergic reactions occur in one case out of every 50,000 doses given. The varicella vaccine can also be transmitted -- documented in three cases out of 21 million doses.\nA recent government study showed seven out of 10 children would rather have a needle stuck in their arms than experience the symptoms of the varicella virus -- 250 to 500 itchy scabs covering every inch of the body which can last for more than a week.\nThe vaccine has a high rate of success. Extensive studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Health have indicated in any area where the vaccine has been widely distributed, chickenpox cases have declined significantly.\n-- Contact staff writer Allison Ricket at aricket@indiana.edu.