Chickenpox (Varicella) Vaccine

Why get Vaccinated ?

Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a common childhood disease. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults.

The chickenpox virus can be spread from person to person through the air, or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters. It causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. Chickenpox virus can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death. A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later. About 12,000 people are hospitalized for chickenpox each year in the United States. Approximately 100 people die each year in the United States as a result of chickenpox.

Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox.

Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it usually is very mild. They will have fewer spots, are less likely to have fever, and will recover faster.

Who should get chickenpox vaccine and when?

Children should get 1 dose of chickenpox vaccine between 12 and 18 months of age, or at any age after that if they have never had chickenpox.  People who do not get the vaccine until 13 years of age or older should get 2 doses, 4-8 weeks apart. Chickenpox vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Some people should not get chickenpox vaccine or should wait

People should not get chickenpox vaccine if they have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or (for those needing a second dose) a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine.

People who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine.

Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not get pregnant for one month after getting chickenpox vaccine.

Some people should check with their health care provider about weather they should get chickenpox vaccine, including anyone who: has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, is being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or longer, has any kind of cancer, or is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs.

People who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products should ask their doctor when they may get chickenpox vaccine.

What are the risk from chickenpox vaccine ?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as a severe allergic reactions. The risk of chickenpox vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Getting chickenpox vaccine is much safer than getting chickenpox disease. Most people who get the vaccine do not have any problems with it.

Mild Problems

Soreness or swelling where the shot was given (about 1 out of 5 children and up to 1 out of 3 adolescents   and adults), Fever ( 1 person out of 10 or less), and or a mild rash, up to a month after vaccination ( 1 person out of 20, or less). it is possible for these people to infect other members of their household but this is extremely rare.

Moderate Problems

Seizure (jerking or staring) caused by fever (less than 1 person out of 1,000).

Severe Problems

Developing pneumonia (very rare), other serious problems, including severe brain reactions and low blood count, have been reported after chickenpox vaccine. These happen so rarely experts cannot tell whether they are caused by the vaccine or not. If they are, it is extremely rare.

What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?

You should look for any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever or behavior change. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heartbeat or dizziness within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. A high fever or seizure, if it occurs, would happen 1 to 6 weeks after the shot.

Call your health care provider or get  to a doctor right away. Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given. Ask your health care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VEARS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

CDC/ National Immunization Program