Chickenpox - vaccine

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Chickenpox	Chickenpox, acute pneumonia - chest X-ray	Chickenpox - close-up	Chickenpox - lesion on the leg
Chickenpox - lesions on the chest

This vaccine protects against chickenpox, a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Chickenpox is characterized by a rash that forms blisters and is generally mild. However, some children can develop serious, even life-threatening, complications from chickenpox.

Varicella zoster virus vaccine; Varivax; Vaccine - chickenpox

VACCINE INFORMATION

Chickenpox is a caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is very common and highly contagious, occurring more often in the winter and spring. Generally, the infection is mild and not life-threatening, but there are thousands of cases each year in which people become seriously ill, requiring hospitalization, and some people do die from it.

A version of the chickenpox vaccine vaccine has been developed to prevent shingles (herpes zoster) in adults. Shingles is caused by the virus that causes chickenpox. This article focuses on the vaccine to prevent chickenpox, not shingles.

IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the traditional chickenpox vaccine for children over 12 months.

People 13 and older who have not received the vaccine and have not had chickenpox should get 2 doses 4 to 8 weeks apart. Children who receive the vaccine before age 13 only need to receive 1 dose.

STATE REQUIREMENTS

In a growing number of states, the chickenpox vaccine is required before a child enters school entry.

The following are generally considered acceptable proof of immunity:

• A history of having chickenpox
• Showing that you have had the vaccine
• Showing a blood test result that indicates immunity to chickenpox

BENEFITS:

The vaccine is highly effective for the prevention of chickenpox. However, a small number of people will still get chickenpox, despite having received the vaccine. Such cases are generally milder than those seen in unvaccinated people.

The chickenpox vaccine provides long-term immunity to the disease, and booster immunizations do not appear to be necessary, though this is still under study.