Hungary to provide chickenpox vaccine free of charge from next January

János Lázár, the Minister heading the Prime Minister of Hungary’s Office announced at a Kormányinfó (government information) event that, from January 1, 2019, the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine will be included among the age-related vaccines provided free of charge, which is another major step in the fight against the disease associated with severe complications in some cases.

The Hungarian Association of Innovative Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AIPM) welcomes the government’s decision which further broadens the immunity of young children against communicable diseases. In addition to this decision, constructive consultations on the inclusion of other innovative medicinal products in the social security subsidy system have also been held. The AIPM hopes that once these consultations result in a satisfactory conclusion, the advanced therapies having been included in the waiting list so far, will become available to many patients.

Within the framework of the National Immunization Program, the varicella vaccine will be added to the group of the age-related vaccines. Varicella vaccines should be administered in two doses, between the ages of 15 and 18 months.