The move would see Sweden following in the footsteps of neighbouring Finland.
The agency says that the measure would save money in terms of parents not having to spend as many days off work to care for sick children, and minimising the spread of chickenpox in society would protect those for whom an infection could end up being serious.
Chickenpox is usually a relatively mild disease for young children, albeit with irritating and itching blisters.
If you’ve had it once, you’re protected for life. But if you catch it as an adult, it could be more serious, and it could even be life-threatening for some groups such as cancer patients with weakened immune systems. For pregnant people, it could risk the life of the fetus.
The Public Health Agency proposes that the first dose of the vaccine should be given to children at their regular health check-up at the age of one-and-a-half, when they’re given the vaccine against MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).
The second dose should be given together with the second MMR shot in year one or two of school.
It’s already possible for children to get vaccinated against chickenpox at private clinics, but it is expensive at roughly 800 kronor. If it becomes part of the national vaccination programme for children, it would be free.
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