The Norwegian Public Health Institute (FHI) has issued a recommendation to the Ministry of Health and Care Services to include a chickenpox vaccine in the national childhood vaccination program. This initiative aims to prevent severe illness, complications, and hospital admissions that can result from chickenpox infections. By incorporating this vaccine, the health authorities hope to enhance the overall health protection for children in Norway.

Siri Helene Hauge, the director of the Department of Infection Control and Vaccination at FHI, outlined the benefits of the chickenpox vaccine, stating that it will provide direct protection to children who receive the vaccine. Additionally, it will offer indirect protection through herd immunity to those children who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical conditions. The introduction of this vaccine is viewed as a necessary step in improving public health and preventing outbreaks of chickenpox in the community.

The recommendation comes at a time when public health officials are increasingly focusing on vaccination as a critical tool in disease prevention. By adding the chickenpox vaccine to the childhood vaccination program, Norway aims to further its commitment to safeguarding children's health and reducing the burden of infectious diseases in the population. This decision also aligns with broader global health strategies aimed at minimizing the impacts of vaccine-preventable diseases.