Chickenpox vaccine

Chickenpox spreads easily from person to person.

1. It can spread through the air when a person is in the room with someone who has chickenpox, and may be spread by someone who has the disease even before the typical rash breaks out.
2. You can also catch it through contact with liquid from a chickenpox blister or saliva from an infected person.
3. A pregnant woman with chickenpox can pass it to her baby before birth or can give it to her newborn baby.

1. If the blisters get infected, people may be left with disfiguring scars.
2. Chickenpox can lead to pneumonia or problems with any other organs such as the brain, the liver and the heart.
3. Pregnant women who get chickenpox may give birth to babies with birth defects, such as skin scars, eye problems, or incompletely formed arms or legs.
4. Chickenpox can be very severe or even life threatening to newborn babies, adults, and those who have weak immune systems.
5. Chickenpox virus can reactivate later in life to cause shingles, a painful rash that can be very severe, especially in the elderly.

Chickenpox vaccine contains a tiny amount of the chickenpox virus, which has been specially treated so that it will not cause disease in healthy people.

• It is given by needle, and is a very safe vaccine.
• It gives about 97 per cent protection from chickenpox.

Those who do not get complete protection usually develop much milder disease if they are exposed to the chickenpox virus.

• Children from 1 to 12 years of age need one shot.
• Anyone 13 years of age and older needs two shots, four weeks apart.

It can be given at the same time as the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (in the other arm).

1. All children at 12 months of age – even if they had chickenpox disease before their first birthday.
2. Anyone living in a household or caring for someone whose immune system is weak or damaged by disease or medications.
3. All healthcare workers who have the potential to acquire chickenpox disease from people or transmit chickenpox disease to others during the course of their work.
4. Women who have just recently had a baby and whose blood tests indicate they have not had chickenpox disease already.

Although it will case no harm, there is no reason to give this vaccine if a person has already had chickenpox disease or chickenpox vaccine after one year of age because you already have protection against future chickenpox infection.

1. Babies less than one year old.
2. People whose immune systems are weak or damaged from disease or certain medications (unless their specialist recommends it).
3. Women who are pregnant, or trying to get pregnant (women should not get pregnant for at least one month after getting the chickenpox vaccine).
4. People who have severe allergies to neomycin or gelatine or any other component of this vaccine.
5. Anyone who has had immunization with a live vaccine (such as measles, mumps and rubella) within one month. However, it is all right to have immunization with another live vaccine on the same day as chickenpox immunization.
6. People who have previously had chickenpox or chickenpox vaccine, after 1 year of age, as they likely already have protection.

If you are 12 years of age or younger it is safe to receive a dose of chickenpox vaccine even if you are unsure if you had the disease.

If you are 13 years of age and over you should see your doctor to have a blood test done. This will tell you if you have already have protection against chickenpox.

If the blood test shows you do not have protection, you should be immunized as soon as possible.

There may be some redness, swelling and pain at the site of the needle.

• Some people will get a rash, which looks like a very mild case of chickenpox, one to two weeks after they get the vaccine.
• As with any vaccine, there is a remote chance of a severe allergic reaction.

1. For pain or swelling where the needle was given, place a cool damp towel on the area.
2. For pain or fever, give acetaminophen (also called Tylenol^®) as directed on the container.

NOTE: Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or Aspirin^®) is not recommended for persons less than 18 years of age because of the increased risk of Reye’s syndrome.