Chickenpox Vaccination Service.

Chickenpox is a very common childhood infection where symptoms are mild and complications rare. Almost all children develop immunity to chickenpox after infection, so they usually only catch it once, it is very rare to catch chickenpox a second time. Chickenpox is less common but more severe in adults.

The Chickenpox vaccine helps protect against chickenpox that is caused by exposure to the Varicella Zoster virus (VZV), which is transmitted by direct personal contact or by airborne means. The Chickenpox vaccine does not form part of the National Childhood Immunisation Programme, however it is available privately. 

About the Chickenpox Vaccination Service
At Carrigaline CarePlus Pharmacy, we are delighted to now offer a Chickenpox Vaccination Service. We understand that some people may wish to consider vaccination against Varicella zoster virus, either for their children, or themselves if they have never previously had Chickenpox.

The chickenpox vaccine contains a weakened chickenpox virus that encourages your body to produce antibodies against the varicella zoster virus. Antibodies are proteins produced by your body to destroy disease and infection. The vaccine protects you from becoming ill if you are infected with chickenpox.

However, vaccination against does not form part of the National Childhood Immunisation Programme (for cost reasons mainly). Many other countries routinely fund vaccination of children against Chickenpox. The three main reasons why people vaccinated are:

• help reduce the chance of you needing 2-3 weeks off work /school
• reduce unnecessary suffering. Complications can include pneumonia, secondary bacterial skin infections and viral meningitis and encephalitis.
• help reduce the chance of shingles in later life which has its own complications (e.g., post-herpetic neuralgia)

How can I get the Chickenpox Vaccine?
The Chickenpox Vaccination Service is available privately for children as young as 14-months up to adults  aged 65 years, subject to eligibility criteria at Carrigaline CarePlus Pharmacy. The service is offered by specially trained CarePlus Pharmacist vaccinators.

Children aged 14 months to 12 years will receive two doses of the vaccine:

• one dose at their first appointment
• a second dose at least four weeks after the first dose.

People aged 13 to 65 years will receive two doses of the vaccine:

• one dose at their first appointment
• a second dose after four to eight weeks

The price of each vaccination is €70 (excluding doctor's fee)

How Our Chickenpox Vaccination Service Works

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More information regarding the Chickenpox vaccine can be found on Vaccine Patient Information Leaflet or on HSE website by clicking here.

Carrigaline CarePlus Pharmacy 

Welcome to Carrigaline CarePlus Pharmacy - our team are dedicated to looking after you and your family. Our primary goal is to make life easier for you in any way we can and to offer expert advice and extended services for your health and well-being.

Carrigaline CarePlus Pharmacy was opened by Nigel Moloney in September 2017 and has since become an integral part of the community in Carrigaline, Crosshaven, Minane Bridge, Fountainstown, Myrtleville and the surrounding areas.

Nigel and the team are committed to providing the very best pharmacy services and expertise to the community in Carrigaline and beyond.

We look forward to looking after you and your family.

Address: Carrigaline CarePlus Primary Care Centre Estuary Business Park, Kilnagleary, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, P43 PX99
Tel:  021-475 7083
Email: carrigalinepharmacy@careplus. 

Opening Hours: Mon- Fri: 9:00am - 6:00pm Sat: 9:30am - 12:30pm Sun: Closed 

Frequently Asked Questions

• What causes chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by a virus, the varicella-zoster virus.

• How does chickenpox spread?
Chickenpox spreads from person to person by direct contact or through the air by coughing or sneezing. It is highly contagious. It can also be spread through direct contact with the fluid from a blister of a person infected with chickenpox, or from direct contact with a sore from a person with shingles.

• How long does it take to show signs of chickenpox after being exposed?
It takes from 10 to 21 days to develop symptoms after being exposed to a person infected with chickenpox.The usual time period is 14–16 days.

• What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
The most common symptoms of chickenpox are rash, fever, coughing, fussiness, headache, and loss of appetite. The rash usually develops on the scalp and body, and then spreads to the face, arms, and legs. The rash usually forms 200–500 itchy blisters in several successive crops. The illness lasts about 5–10 days.

• How serious is chickenpox?
Many cases of chickenpox are mild, but deaths from this disease can occur.
Chickenpox also accounts for about 200 hospitalisations each year in Ireland.
Even children with average cases of chickenpox are uncomfortable and need to be kept out of creche or school for a week or more.

• What are possible complications from chickenpox?
The most common complication is bacterial infection of the skin or other parts of the body including the bones, lungs, joints, and blood. The virus can also lead to pneumonia or infection of the brain. These complications are rare but serious. Complications are more common in infants, adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

• How do I know if my child has chickenpox?
Usually, chickenpox can be diagnosed by disease history and appearance alone. Adults who need to know if they’ve had chickenpox in the past can have this determined by a laboratory test.

• How long is a person with chickenpox contagious?
Patients with chickenpox are contagious for 1–2 days before the rash appears and continue to be contagious through the first 4–5 days or until all the blisters are crusted over.

• Is there a treatment for chickenpox?
Most cases of chickenpox in otherwise healthy children are treated with bed rest, fluids, and control of fever.
Children with chickenpox should NOT receive the following medication:
• aspirin because of possible subsequent risk of Reye’s syndrome
• ibuprofen can increase the risk of serious skin infections
Paracetamol may be given for fever control.
Chickenpox may be treated with an antiviral drug in serious cases, depending on the patient’s age and health, the extent of the infection, and the timing of the treatment.

• How are chickenpox and shingles related?
Both chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus.
After a person has had chickenpox, thevirus remains in the body permanently, but silently.About one-third of all people who have been infected with chickenpox later develop the disease known as herpes zoster, or shingles. Symptoms of shingles are pain, itching, blisters, and loss of feeling along a nerve. Most cases occur in people older than 50, and the risk of developing shingles increases with age.
• Who should have the vaccine?
In Ireland the chickenpox vaccine is not currently part of the routine childhood schedule. It is recommended for those in close contact with people who are particularly at risk of complications from chickenpox. This includes:
• Healthcare workers of all kinds who are not immune to chickenpox
• Healthy family members and contacts of people without a fully working immune system (for example, those with HIV, those without a spleen, people who have had an organ transplant, and those receiving chemotherapy treatment). As the chickenpox vaccine is a live vaccine, people without a fully working immune system cannot receive the vaccine themselves.
In Ireland the vaccine is given to adults and children over the age of one year. Two doses are given, at least 4 weeks apart. The exact spacing between doses depends on the age of the person receiving the vaccine.

• Who should not have the vaccine?
The chickenpox vaccine should not be given to people who are clinically immunosuppressed (either due to drug treatment or underlying illness). This is because the vaccine strain could replicate too much and cause a serious infection. This includes babies whose mothers have had immunosuppressive treatment while they were pregnant or breastfeeding.
The chickenpox vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women as a matter of caution. However, studies have not shown any link between the weakened virus in the vaccine and any specific problems in babies born to women who received a chickenpox vaccine while they were pregnant. See 'Is the vaccine safe?' below.

• What protection does the vaccine give?
Two doses of the vaccine give about 98% protection in children and about 75% protection in teenagers and adults.

• What are the side effects?
For full information on side effects, ask for the Patient Information leaflet for the vaccine you are offered. As a general guide, side effects may be experienced as listed below.
Very common (affecting more than 1 in 10 people at each dose):
• reactions at the site of the injection, including redness, pain and swelling.
• raised temperature (fever)
Common (affecting up to 1 in 10 people at each dose):
• chickenpox-like rash (in up to 10% of adults and 5% of children)
• mild cold-like symptoms
• irritability
• itching at the injection site
Uncommon (affecting up to 1 in 100 people at each dose):
• swollen glands, headache, sore throat, cough, or runny nose
• feeling sick or being sick
• diarrhoea
• a rash with blisters
• joint or muscle pain
• very high temperature
• drowsiness, tiredness, or feeling generally unwell
.
• Is the vaccine safe?
Because the chickenpox vaccine is live, there is a very small risk that someone who has been vaccinated could pass on the virus to someone who is not immune to chickenpox. This is usually only a risk if the person who has been vaccinated develops a chickenpox type rash at the injection site or elsewhere on the body.
The chickenpox vaccine should not be given to people who are clinically immunosuppressed (either due to drug treatment or underlying illness). This is because the vaccine strain could replicate too much and cause a serious infection. This includes babies whose mothers have had immunosuppressive treatment while they were pregnant or breastfeeding.
The chickenpox vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women as a matter of caution. Women who have had the vaccine are advised to avoid getting pregnant for one month after vaccination. However, studies have been carried out on pregnant women who have accidentally received chickenpox vaccine before they knew they were pregnant. These have not shown any link between the weakened virus in the vaccine and any specific problems in babies born to these women.