Massimiliano Fedriga, a member of the right-wing Northern League party and president of the Friuli-Venezia Giuli region, has been hospitalised after contracting chickenpox.
He had argued against the Lorenzin decree which has made vaccination against the infection compulsory in Italy.
Currently, Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine is available in Europe but in the UK is not currently recommended as a routine childhood immunisation.
Most cases are mild but there are still some cases with severe complications. Vaccination can be given at the same time as MMR i.e. around 12-13 months. Children require two doses of Varicella.
An Italian law, recently introduced, states that children under the age of six could be sent home from nursery and heavily fined if they are not properly vaccinated.
Mr Fedriga has been a prominent rival of Italy’s verdict to introduce compulsory childhood vaccinations against 12 diseases, including chickenpox (Oh the irony!).
Unfortunately, Mr Fedriga opposed the law and said “vaccination should not be forced upon people”, despite having had his own children protected against chickenpox and measles, reported La Vanguardia.
Italian Microbiologist Robert Burioni wrote on his blog: Mr Fedriga, like many adults, did not get vaccinated if he had been vaccinated as an adult he would be in perfect health
“If he had infected a pregnant woman we would be facing a malformed child or an abortion. The only way we have to avoid such tragedies is to vaccinate us all to prevent the circulation of this dangerous virus, which could have hit a much more vulnerable person.”
Here at Harrow Health Care Centre, we offer a full range of vaccinations for both children and adults in accordance with the Department of Health Guidelines. These include the Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccination.
The vaccination is currently only provided on the NHS to those who are perceived to be particularly vulnerable to the infection.
However, we have no such limitations and are able to offer the vaccination to children from the age of 12 months. Children require two doses of the vaccine usually 4-6 weeks apart which will provide immunity against the infection.
To find out more about Harrow Health Care Centre’s vaccination services, please call 020 8861 1221 or visit https://harrowhealthcare.co.uk/our-services/childrens-vaccinations/
