Chickenpox is one of the most common childhood viral infections and in most cases it is a mild disease. However complications arising from chickenpox can be quite severe and like other childhood diseases, it can be prevented with the proper vaccination. Chickenpox is highly contagious and affects most children within the first 10 years of life. In adults, the disease can be more severe but complications are usually rare aunless the person is immunocompromised like in HIV/AIDS patients.
The MMR vaccine is a 3-in-1 combination vaccine offering protection against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles). While only the measles vaccine is mandatory, many parents opt for the MMR vaccine for the added protection from mumps and rubella because both infections can cause serious complications. Unfortunately, the MMR vaccine has also received a lot of negative press because of supposed links to autism which is totally unfounded.
The concern about the increasing swine flu (2009 H1N1 flu) infections in South Africa has prompted the Department of Health to follow suit, along with other countries, in considering a vaccination program for South Africans. The concern around the current 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic is that South Africa’s HIV positive citizens may be the most prone. Given the high HIV/AIDS infection rate in South Africa, this could have a detrimental effect on the adult population of the country.
