Sweden to provide free chickenpox vaccine for children

Starting next year, Sweden will offer the chickenpox vaccine as part of its general vaccination program, free of charge for all children who have not already contracted the illness. The vaccine will be administered in two doses: the first at 18 months old through Sweden's child health centers (Barnavårdscentralen, or BVC), and the second when the child reaches 7-8 years old via school student health programs.

Minister of Social Affairs Jakob Forssmed of the Christian Democrats highlighted the urgency of this measure, explaining that chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and long-lasting discomfort. It's most common among preschool children and spreads rapidly. While most recover fully, the virus can remain dormant in nerve cells and later cause shingles. There's also a risk of bacterial infection in the blisters that form, which may need antibiotic treatment.

Forssmed emphasized that avoiding the illness is beneficial in several ways, including reducing antibiotic resistance. Children older than 18 months at the program's start are not covered. To catch up, the government is funding a temporary vaccination effort for children aged 5-17, not yet immune to the disease. The yearly cost for free chickenpox vaccination for children is projected to be 43 million kronor beginning in 2027, rising to 49 million in 2027 and 51 million annually from 2028 to 2032.

Forssmed stressed that eradicating the disease is a priority for Sweden. An agreement with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) will run for three years. Afterward, catch-up vaccination efforts are expected to continue for several more years. He confirmed that vaccines within the vaccination program will be offered annually, permanently. The decision to implement these changes to the infectious disease control ordinance was made on July 30th.