Who should get the 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 the chickenpox vaccine or should wait:

• People should not get the 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.

• Some people should check with their doctor about whether 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.                          

What are the risks from chickenpox vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as 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.

Mild problems:

• Soreness or swelling where the shot was given
• Fever (1 person out of 10, or less)
• Mild rash, up to a month after vaccination

Moderate problems:

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

Severe problems:

• Pneumonia (very rare).  Other serious problems, including severe brain reactions and low blood count, have been reported after chickenpox vaccination.

What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?

What should I look for?  Any unusual condition, such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat 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.

What should I do? 

• Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.

• Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.

• Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

Phone numbers of importance:

VAERS, 1-800-822-7967

National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 1-800-338-2382

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1-800-232-2522