A free vaccine to protect against chickenpox will be offered to 12 month old babies from next year.
The jab – known as the varicella vaccine – will be available for babies born after the 1st of October this year.
Up until now, parents wishing to get their baby vaccinated against chickenpox had to pay between 100 and 200 euro.
President of the Irish Medical Organisation, Donegal’s Dr. Denis McCauley says it will help reduce the spread of the disease.
