Chickenpox is highly infectious and affects all ages - should we vaccinate children against it? 

A childhood vaccination programme could help prevent serious complications and protect pregnant women and their babies. But the vaccine does not offer lifelong protection and could increase the risk of shingles in adults 

Sick girl is sitting on the bed with teddy-bear

Pharmacist Sheena Mitchell often meets parents who don’t know if their child has been vaccinated against chickenpox.

But chickenpox vaccination isn’t currently part of Ireland’s routine childhood immunisation schedule – though this has been scheduled for review by HIQA.