Work days lost as justification for chickenpox vaccine

Weighing Chickenpox Vaccine for All - page 1, page 2 - New York Times

A vast majority of the economic cost of the disease is attributable to lost pay of parents who become housebound with children who are not allowed to go back to school...

"To me there are enough complications and parents lose so much time from work taking care of kids with chickenpox that it is worth vaccinating," said Dr. Anne A. Gershon, head of pediatric infectious disease at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

"If the parent's lost work is the problem, then maybe we should send children back to school sooner,"" he (Brunnell) said.

Chickenpox or Vaccine: A Choice? - Massachusetts Institute of Technology

First, a few words about chickenpox in children. Here's the best description I've seen: "Chickenpox is most commonly an annoying illness lasting three to seven days, and happily never seen again." Usually the worst part about it is that a parent has to lose a few days of work caring for the child. The best part--and it is a very good part--is that having chickenpox gives you lifelong immunity. Once you have had chickenpox, you will never get it again.

Why the Chickenpox Vaccine is Nuts!

When I first heard press reports about the new chickenpox vaccine, I remember thinking to myself, "That's crazy -- how in the world will they sell a new vaccine with unknown long term dangers to the public -- nobody's scared of chickenpox." But very soon my question was answered. While reading a popular parenting magazine one day, I noticed a slick multi-page advertising insert that compared the cost of this vaccine to lost wages of the working parent who must miss a week of work to care for their sick child. It was a shock to see the health of our children so shamelessly traded for the materialism of our culture.

Does Adult Need Chickenpox Vaccine?

In addition to the medical complications, the virus causes a great financial burden. As many as half a million physician visits each year are due to the disease. The amount of lost wages for the parents of ill children is staggering. Because of the economic implications and the occasional complications, researchers developed a vaccine to prevent varicella.