COLOMBIA, S.C. (News Release) – In response to the first two chickenpox outbreaks in South Carolina since 2020, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is urging parents and providers to keep children up to date on vaccinations to limit the spread of preventable diseases.
According to a press release from the DHEC, two chickenpox outbreaks were reported in early March 2022. The first case was reported on March 4th in the Lowcountry Region in a childcare setting. The second one was reported in the Upstate Region on March 10th in an elementary school.
South Carolina Epidemiologist, Dr.Linda Bell made a statement addressing the current cases, ” These two varicella outbreaks, as well as a decline in childhood vaccination coverage, highlight the need for a renewed focus on maintaining recommended childhood vaccinations, we encourage parents to consult their children’s medical provider to ensure their child’s vaccination record is current.”
DHEC informs the public that while chickenpox is not usually deadly, 10,500-13,000 people require hospitalization if they are not vaccinated. In efforts to control disease and minimize the spread of chickenpox cases in childcare settings, DHEC states people who are infected or unvaccinated must be excluded from the location where the outbreak occurred.
Officials state that is recommended that unvaccinated people exposed to chickenpox must be excluded for 21 days after the last case is identified or they may return to group settings once they have received one dose of age-appropriate varicella vaccine. Those who are ineligible for the vaccine due to age or medical condition must complete the exclusion period.
DHEC members believe decreasing rates associated with routine childhood vaccinations will create a re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks of varicella, pertussis, measles, and other diseases, all of which can carry serious complications that are unusual now because of the benefit of vaccination programs.
According to data collected by DHEC from the 45-day School Immunization Assessment, the percent of school children with a valid immunization certificate – a written statement from a physician, nurse or health official documenting the date of vaccination – decreased from 98.1% in 2014-15 to 95.7% in 2021-22. Large outbreaks of highly transmissible diseases such as measles have occurred in populations with less than 95% coverage.
You can make an appointment to receive certain vaccines, including flu, pneumonia, varicella and tetanus, at one of DHEC’s county health departments by visiting scdhec.gov or calling the Care Line at 1-855-472-3432.
For more information on vaccine requirements, visit the DHEC website: childcare and school-required vaccines. You can also learn more about varicella on the agency website.
