CHICKENPOX VACCINE

W H A T Y O U N E E D T O K N O W

People who do not get the vaccine until 13 years

1 Why get vaccinated? of age or older should get 2 doses, 4-8 weeks
apart.
Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a common
childhood disease. It is usually mild, but it can be Ask your doctor or nurse for details.
serious, especially in young infants and adults.
Chickenpox vaccine may be given at the same time
• The chickenpox virus can be spread from person as other vaccines.
to person through the air, or by contact with fluid
from chickenpox blisters.
Some people should not get
• It causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. 3 chickenpox vaccine or
should wait
• It can lead to severe skin infection, scars,
pneumonia, brain damage, or death. • People should not get chickenpox vaccine if they
have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction
• A person who has had chickenpox can get a to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or (for those
painful rash called shingles years later. needing a second dose) a previous dose of
chickenpox vaccine.
• About 12,000 people are hospitalized for
chickenpox each year in the United States. • People who are moderately or severely ill at the
time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until
• About 100 people die each year in the United they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine.
States as a result of chickenpox.
• Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox
Chickenpox vaccine can prevent chickenpox. vaccine until after they have given birth. Women
should not get pregnant for 1 month after getting
Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not chickenpox vaccine.
get chickenpox. But if someone who has been
• Some people should check with their doctor
vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very
about whether they should get chickenpox vaccine,
mild. They will have fewer spots, are less likely to
including anyone who:
have a fever, and will recover faster.
- Has HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects
the immune system
- Is being treated with drugs that affect the
Who should get chickenpox
2 vaccine and when?
immune system, such as steroids, for 2 weeks or
longer
- Has any kind of cancer
- Is taking cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

Children should get 1 dose of chickenpox
vaccine between 12 and 18 months of age, • People who recently had a transfusion or were
or at any age after that if they have never had given other blood products should ask their
chickenpox. doctor when they may get chickenpox vaccine.

Ask your doctor or nurse for more information.

 What should I do?
What are the risks from
4 chickenpox vaccine? • Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right
away.
A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing • Tell your doctor what happened, the date and
serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. time it happened, and when the vaccination was
The risk of chickenpox vaccine causing serious given.
harm, or death, is extremely small. • Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to
file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
Getting chickenpox vaccine is much safer than (VAERS) form. Or call VAERS yourself at
getting chickenpox disease. 1-800-822-7967 or visit their website at
http://www.vaers.org.
Most people who get chickenpox vaccine do not
have any problems with it. The National Vaccine Injury
6 Compensation Program
Mild Problems
• Soreness or swelling where the shot was given In the rare event that you or your child has a
(about 1 out of 5 children and up to 1 out of 3 serious reaction to a vaccine, a federal program has
adolescents and adults) been created to help you pay for the care of those
• Fever (1 person out of 10, or less) who have been harmed.
• Mild rash, up to a month after vaccination (1
person out of 20, or less). It is possible for these For details about the National Vaccine Injury
people to infect other members of their household, Compensation Program, call 1-800-338-2382 or visit
but this is extremely rare. the program’s website at
http://www.hrsa.gov/osp/vicp
Moderate Problems
• Seizure (jerking or staring) caused by fever (less
than 1 person out of 1,000).
7 How can I learn more?

• Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you

Severe Problems the vaccine package insert or suggest other
• Pneumonia (very rare) sources of information.
Other serious problems, including severe brain
reactions and low blood count, have been reported • Call your local or state health department’s
after chickenpox vaccination. These happen so rarely immunization program.
experts cannot tell whether they are caused by the
vaccine or not. If they are, it is extremely rare. • Contact the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC):
- Call 1-800-232-2522 (English)
What if there is a moderate - Call 1-800-232-0233 (Español)
5 or severe reaction? - Visit the National Immunization Program’s
website at http://www.cdc.gov/nip of geets
What should I look for? ye
Any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic
reaction, high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a
serious allergic reaction can include difficulty U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
U
National Immunization Program
weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness within a
few minutes to a few hours after the shot. A high Vaccine Information Statement
fever or seizure, if it occurs, would happen 1 to 6 Varicella (12/16/98) 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26
weeks after the shot.