Most people don't worry about college kids getting chickenpox.

But Edward Ehlinger, director of the University of Minnesota's Boynton Health Service, says that's just what may happen if more children are not vaccinated against the disease while they're young.

"I predict that we will be experiencing a major outbreak of chickenpox on college campuses," Ehlinger told a public hearing in St. Paul on Friday.

The hearing, before an administrative law judge, was held to determine the fate of a Health Department proposal to require two more immunizations for Minnesota school kids -- the chickenpox and pneumonia vaccines.

For almost six hours, Judge Kathleen Sheehy listened to impassioned comments from doctors, nurses, lawyers and parents, arguing the benefits and dangers of childhood vaccines.

Ehlinger, however, noted that children won't be the only ones affected by the decision. if the policy doesn't change, he said, adults may pay a hefty price as well.

Right now, the chickenpox vaccine is voluntary in Minnesota, and about 62 percent of Minnesota children are immunized, Ehlinger said. That means fewer kids are getting sick, and more kids are growing up without coming into contact with chickenpox naturally. If they haven't been vaccinated, they may not get the virus until adulthood -- when it's far more dangerous.

Unless the vaccine is mandatory, Ehlinger said, "the number of students who get to college without immunity will increase." Adults are much more likely to be hospitalized and suffer life-threatening complications from chickenpox.

Dr. Richard Andersen, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital in St. Paul, agreed. "The great paradox to me is that by taking a half-hearted approach . . . we're creating exactly the scenario we're trying to avoid."

Both said they strongly supported the Health Department recommendations.

But opponents argued that the state shouldn't require any new vaccines while many people believe the safety of the old ones is still in question.

"Government should get out of the business of mandating vaccines," said Barbara Loe Fisher, president of the National Vaccine Information Center in Washington, D.C. "It's illogical and scientifically irresponsible to assume that there's no connection between the ever increasing numbers of vaccines that we mandate for our children, and the ever increasing rate of chronic disease." Her group represents families who believe their children's illnesses or disorders such as autism, and even deaths, were caused by vaccines.

But Health Department officials and several physicians defended the vaccines, saying they can reduce the risks of potentially life-threatening diseases and complications. And they noted that families can get waivers to avoid the vaccines.

"My heart goes out to these parents," said Dr. Clifford Wu, a pediatrician from New Ulm. "But they're looking for answers; they're looking for scapegoats."

Judge Sheehy has two months to rule on the proposed vaccine requirement.

-- Maura Lerner is at mlerner@startribune.com.