Vaccination and Chickenpox
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. misleadingly claimed that Europe doesn’t vaccinate children against chickenpox due to concerns about shingles, but studies have not supported this claim. Some European countries do vaccinate kids against chickenpox. The varicella-zoster virus causes both chickenpox and shingles. There is concern that vaccinating kids against chickenpox may temporarily raise shingles risk in older adults, but evidence is lacking. Shingles rates have plateaued or declined in the U.S. Chickenpox vaccine has greatly reduced chickenpox cases and saved lives. The U.K. is set to begin vaccinating children against chickenpox in 2026.
Key Points
- Some European countries do vaccinate children against chickenpox.
- Shingles is caused by the same virus as chickenpox.
- Mathematical modeling projected a temporary increase in shingles risk in older adults after implementing routine chickenpox vaccination for children.
- Evidence is lacking that adults have been afflicted more by shingles due to pediatric chickenpox vaccination programs.
- Chickenpox cases have dropped significantly in the U.S. due to the vaccine.
- The U.K. is set to begin vaccinating children against chickenpox in 2026.
Pros
- Chickenpox vaccine has greatly reduced chickenpox cases and saved lives.
- Vaccinating kids against chickenpox greatly reduces the risk of shingles in children.
- The U.K. has decided to recommend the chickenpox vaccine for all children based on recent evidence.
Cons
- There is concern that vaccinating kids against chickenpox may temporarily raise shingles risk in older adults, but evidence is lacking.