What We Do
Chickenpox: Our Approach
Although chickenpox is generally mild in healthy children, it can lead to serious, even life-threatening complications, particularly in unvaccinated adults, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and newborns.
The challenge is therefore to prevent the risk of transmission among these at-risk groups. Santé publique France is therefore tasked with managing clusters of cases in communities and ensuring that precautionary measures are implemented.
Epidemiological Surveillance of Chickenpox
Chickenpox has been monitored by the Sentinelles network since 1990. This network is coordinated by the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm U707). Each week, the network reports, in its weekly bulletin, an estimate of the number of chickenpox cases that have sought medical care in mainland France, along with maps showing their geographic distribution.
An annual report is compiled and published online each year, providing an estimate of the annual number of cases, the number of hospitalized cases, and the number of severe cases. Santé publique France contributes to this network and provides its expertise to regional health agencies and the Directorate General for Health.
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A prevention initiative against chickenpox
Santé publique France has created an information website on vaccinations available in France to provide reliable, scientifically validated answers to questions the public and healthcare professionals may have on the subject.
A section dedicated to chickenpox vaccination is available in two sections—one for the general public and the other for healthcare professionals—to better support them in their practice:
In relation to
Vaccination
thematic dossier
Contagious diseases most often affect children at a very young age. Because children are particularly vulnerable, they are a priority target for vaccination programs.
