Official wants all children to get chickenpox vaccine

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Public Health director recommended Monday that young children be vaccinated against chickenpox starting next fall.

"Chickenpox can be serious and even deadly, but the vaccine can prevent severe infections with a high degree of reliability," Dr. John Lumpkin said in a statement.

The decision comes after more than a year of study, hearings and recommendations by two public bodies, and must be approved by a legislative rules committee before taking effect.

The decision could affect more than 200,000 children because it will apply to everyone entering day care, preschool or kindergarten next fall.

Public Health spokesman Tom Schafer said Gov. George Ryan has promised to ensure that there is enough money to pay for vaccines for families that can't afford the shot.

But opponents say they will continue to fight the recommendation, saying the vaccine can cause health problems itself and its safety and long-term effects are untested.

Opposition forms

"They concentrate on the disease and give little space or time to the vaccine," Barbara Alexander Mullarkey of the Illinois Vaccine Awareness Coalition said of proponents. "The vaccine is what they are thinking of mandating, so talk about the vaccine. Where are the studies that show its ingredients are safe? Where are the studies on its long-term effects?"

Mullarkey said opponents now will focus efforts on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, the legislative panel expected to take up the issue early next year.