Anchorage Daily News

STATEWIDE -- All children entering public and private schools in Alaska beginning in July 2009 will be required to have a chickenpox immunization.

The state Board of Education voted on the new regulation last week at its meeting in Anchorage.

The state Department of Health and Social Services proposed adding the chickenpox vaccine to the already required immunizations for schoolchildren.

The chickenpox, or varicella, vaccine has been available since 1995. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends nearly all people who have not had the virus get the vaccine.

More than 45 states have passed requirements that children entering child care and school must have a history of chickenpox or have had the vaccine, according to the CDC. And 24 states have middle or high school requirements.

Another amendment changes the requirement for vaccinations for whooping cough, or pertussis, to apply to all children, not just those under 6 years old.

Students are currently required to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis, measles, mumps, hepatitis A, hepatitis B and rubella.

-- Anchorage Daily News