Two boys have been confirmed to be the first-ever cases of chickenpox vaccine-caused meningitis, whereas the virus reactivated over one decade after they received the shot.
According to the Pediatrics journal piece on the first cases of their type, the two boys who contracted meningitis from the vaccine received the shot when they were little.
While there are normally no complications with chickenpox vaccinations as the vaccine has been declared safe for decades, the live virus injected during the vaccination may reactive after years or even decades in immunocompromised subjects and result in pneumonia, shingles, or hepatitis.
In the two boys’ cases, however, the reactivation of the virus caused meningitis, a condition that, according to the CDC, refers to an “inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.”
As the paper confirmed, one of the affected boys had a history of battling leukemia which was most likely the reason why his immune system was compromised.
As for the other teen, however, he appeared healthy and had no record of health conditions that could compromise his immune system.
After the virus reactivated, both teens were treated with an antiviral drug known as acyclovir which can be used in countering chickenpox, cold sores, and shingles.
“Pediatricians should be aware of the potential of vOka varicella to reactivate and cause clinically significant central nervous system disease in vaccinated children and adolescents,” the article authors warned.
While these cases may cause fear of vaccinations in people, it is important to understand that these are isolated incidents and that up to 150 people in the Americas died due to chickenpox on a yearly basis prior to the invention of the vaccine.
In addition, the CDC has claimed that the chickenpox vaccine helps prevent 3.5 million cases and 9,000 hospitalizations each year.
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Replaced!