Stiftung Warentest advises against chickenpox vaccination

The consumer advocates of Stiftung Warentest advise against chickenpox vaccinations

23.02.2012

The Stiftung Warentest advises contrary to the current announcements of the Standing Vaccination Commission at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) of vaccinations against chickenpox. Although the current vaccine would be effective, vaccination coverage would not last. It follows that the infectious disease occurs in adults and then usually takes a heavy course.

When it comes to vaccination, the ghosts divorce. The most common counter-arguments are possible side effects and a possible inability of the body to independently prepare itself for the pathogens in children's age for later. In addition to representatives of naturopathy, vaccination critics also include more and more doctors. Many even think that the pharmaceutical industry in some cases creates a climate of anxiety in order to better sell vaccine doses. In particular, the panic around the topic of swine flu has confirmed many critics in their attitude. One of the steady advocates of vaccinations is the Ständige Impfkommission (Stiko) at the Robert Koch Institute. For children alone, at least 13 standard vaccinations are recommended, all of which are also funded by health insurance companies. Stiftung Warentest has independently reviewed all recommended vaccinations by a panel of experts. However, with three recommendations from Stiko, consumer advocates deviate from the standard vaccination calendar.

Chickenpox in adults far more dangerous
The recommendations of the consumer protection organization are supported by an independent panel of researchers and physicians. These have determined that a chickenpox vaccine, which is offered to all healthy infants from the age of eleven months, is not advisable. Although the vaccine offers effective protection against the infectious disease, but this does not hold a lifelong time. As a result, chickenpox could become more common in adulthood. Patients who are ill usually go through a difficult course of the disease. The most common sequelae in adults are meningitis, hepatitis, pneumonia or severe gastrointestinal disease. Violent abdominal pain and a bloated abdomen indicate complications in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the symptoms in adulthood are often more serious: those affected often have high fever over 40 degrees and experience chills with a strong feeling of illness. A significantly increased occurrence of the known skin rash in adults is also one of the recognizable symptoms. Many vaccination opponents therefore hold controversial „Pox parties“, so that the children infect each other to prevent occurrence of chickenpox in later life.

Other deviant vaccination recommendations
While the RKI does not consider rotavirus vaccination as standard, in the opinion of consumer advocates vaccination should be performed in infants. According to the foundation, the viruses could cause severe intestinal infections in infants and toddlers. A further objection is raised by the group of experts in meningococcal vaccination, which is officially recommended for infants. In addition, the Stiftung Warentest advises a second vaccination between the 11th and 15th birthday. Again, it is unclear how long the protection will last. The reason: 15- to 19-year-olds „are once more seriously endangered.“ Otherwise, the foundation supports goods testing „the usual recommendations“, As a spokesperson emphasized in a statement. (Sb)

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