Is Your Football Team Immunized?

San Diego State University (SDSU) has postponed football practice because the chickenpox virus has spread to five Aztecs players, according to the Daily Aztec news.

SDSU head coach Rocky Long said, “We cancelled practice so that they can thoroughly clean the weight room and locker room and disinfect it so that we can have a clean environment tomorrow morning to help stop the spread of the virus.”

The SDSU weight room is shared by all the school’s sports teams. School officials said no chickenpox cases outside of the football team have been reported.

Gina Jacobs, SDSU’s interim chief communications officer, said in a statement, “In partnership with Student Health Services, members of the football team and other student athletes are being screened and, if appropriate, have received the chickenpox vaccination.”

According to SDSU’s website, incoming students are required to have immunizations for measles, Hepatitis B, mumps and rubella. Chickenpox vaccination is listed among “other recommended vaccinations,” but is not required for admission at SDSU.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get a serious case of chickenpox and may not be able to get the chickenpox vaccine.

Chickenpox is a very contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes a blister-like rash, itching, tiredness, and fever. The rash appears first on the stomach, back and face and can spread over the entire body causing between 250 and 500 itchy blisters.

The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine.

That’s why it’s important that these people be protected by herd immunity, meaning those who can’t get vaccinated are protected because those who can do get vaccinated.

Herd immunity helps slow and can even stop the spread of disease, so there is a smaller chance that those who are not protected come into contact with the disease.

Merck is the manufacturer of M-M-R II, which includes protection against measles, mumps, and rubella; and ProQuad, which adds protection against the chicken pox.

Most pharmacies offer the MMR and ProQuad vaccine. The CDC Vaccine Price List provides the private sector vaccine prices for general information.