Illinois children entering kindergarten or day care after July 1 must be vaccinated against chicken pox. Illinois joins 34 other states in adding chicken pox vaccine to the list of immunizations required of children. The mandate was made official last week when a bipartisan legislative rules committee in Springfield approved a recommendation made last fall by the state’s public health director, Dr. John Lumpkin. The mandatory immunization against the disease did meet with some opposition, however.

Tom Schafer, Department of Health spokesman, said 400 to 500 children and adults in Illinois end up hospitalized each year after contacting chicken pox and five of those have died. “Our position is there is no reason to have any deaths or hospitalization.”

It was also pointed out that although immunization hasn’t been required it has been available and the vaccine has proven effective. From 1995 to 2000, the number of chicken pox cases in Illinois has dropped from 24,798 to 12,848, it was reported.

Mandatory vaccination is opposed by the Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition, who question the effectiveness of the vaccine. Several legislators maintained that their constituents: objected to the ‘have to’ philosophy; and felt that ‘parents should be the ones to make the decision.’

According to an announcement, it was disclosed that Public health is buying 80,000 doses of the vaccine to immunize needy children.

Parents who object to the mandatory chicken pox vaccination will be required to fill out a statement listing their objections which will be filed with their school districts. State law leaves it up to the school district to decide whether of not to accept the statements the statements. Those children who have had their vaccinations for chicken pox must show proof when they enter kindergarten or day care.

School children are already required to have proof of immunization before entering school against: diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, whooping cough, polio, rubella and tetanus.