Chickenpox added to free vaccinations

THERE were 6'427 cases of chickenpox in the Balearics last year, 78 per cent in minors under the age of 15, according to the Balearic Health Ministry, which has just introduced the illness in the annual calendar of free vaccinations for the population aged between 11 and 14. The rate of chickenpox in under 15s was 3'478 cases per 100'000 inhabitants, while for the rest of the population it was 173 per 100'000 inhabitants.
Adding chickenpox to the vaccination campaign will put an extra 120'000 euros on the cost.
A ministry spokesman said that the decision to include it had been taken to prevent the effects chickenpox can have on adolescents, which are much worse than on small children. There were 4'705 cases of chickenpox in Majorca, 878 in Minorca and 837 in Ibiza-Formentera, the spokesman said, adding that the number of cases had been higher than expected. Thirty-six per cent of the cases occurred between the end of April and early June.