Chickenpox: Disease Control

(asked on 20th April 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the recommendations contained in Public Health England's guidance entitled Varicella: the green book, chapter 34, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that recommendations for the management of at-risk populations after exposure are followed by the NHS.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 6th May 2020

In most cases, chickenpox (varicella) is a self-limiting condition which can be safely managed at home. Post-exposure management using varicella zoster immunoglobulin is used to protect individuals at high risk of suffering from severe chickenpox.

The guidance in the ‘Green Book’1 is based on advice from Public Health England, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and the standards expected of health and care professionals by their regulatory bodies. It is the responsibility of all health and care professionals to keep themselves informed of any such developments that may have bearing on their area of practice.

Note:

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immunisation-against-infectious-disease-the-green-book#the-green-book

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