varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine

Pronunciation:	vare ih SELL ah
Brand:	Varivax

What is the most important information I should know about varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine?

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine.

Do not use salicylates (aspirin or aspirin containing products) for at least six weeks after receiving the vaccine. A serious condition called Reye's Syndrome has been reported in patients with chicken pox taking salicylates.

What is varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine?

Chickenpox is a common childhood disease caused by the varicella virus. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults. Varicella virus can be spread from person to person through the air, or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters. The chickenpox vaccine exposes the individual to a small amount of the virus (or to a protein from the virus) and causes the body to develop immunity to the disease. Most people who get chickenpox vaccine will not get chickenpox. But if someone who has been vaccinated does get chickenpox, it is usually very mild. They will have fewer spots, are less likely to have a fever, and will recover faster.

Chickenpox infection can cause rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. It 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. About 100 people die each year in the United States as a result of chickenpox.

Varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine can help prevent the disease. Many more people would get the disease if vaccination did not occur.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine?

Anyone who had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin, or after receiving a dose of chickenpox vaccine should not get chickenpox vaccine.

Before receiving varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine, talk to your doctor if you:

have HIV or AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system;
are taking a medication that affects the immune system (e.g. steroids, anti-rejection medications);
have cancer;
are receiving cancer treatment with x-rays, radiation, or medication; or
have recently had a blood transfusion or were given other blood products.

Ask your healthcare provider for more information. Varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine may not be recommended in some cases.

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated. Those who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting chickenpox vaccine.

Women who are pregnant should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not get pregnant for at least 3 months after getting chickenpox vaccine.

Talk to your doctor before getting chickenpox vaccine if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine administered?

Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will administer the varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine as an injection.

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. Ask your healthcare provider for details.

Chickenpox vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Your doctor may recommend reducing fever and pain by taking an aspirin-free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Your healthcare provider can tell you the appropriate dosages of these medications.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Contact your doctor if the second dose of chickenpox vaccine is missed (for those over 13 years of age).

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of chickenpox vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid before or after getting varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving chickenpox vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine?

Getting chickenpox disease is much riskier than getting chickenpox vaccine. However, 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. Most people who get chickenpox vaccine do not have any problems with it.

Seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately if any of the following rare but serious side effects from chickenpox vaccine are experienced:

a serious allergic reaction including swelling of the lips, tongue, or face; difficulty breathing; closing of the throat; hives; paleness; weakness; dizziness; or a fast heart beat within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot;
pneumonia (very rare); or
seizures (jerking or staring) caused by fever (less than 1 person out of 1,000);

Other serious problems, including severe brain reactions and low blood count, have been reported after chickenpox vaccination. These happen so rarely experts cannot tell wether they are caused by the vaccine or not. If they are, it is extremely rare.

Other less serious side effects may occur. Talk to your doctor if you experience:

mild to moderate fever (1 person out of 10, or less);
soreness or swelling where the shot was given (about 1 out of 5 children and up to 1 out of 3 adolescents and adults); or
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 the household, but this is extremely rare.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Contact your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine?

Talk to your doctor before receiving chickenpox vaccine if you are taking any of the following medications that may affect the immune system:

an oral or injectable steroid medication such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort);
an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar, Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort);
treatment for cancer with chemotherapy (medication), radiation, or x-rays;
azathioprine (Imuran);
basiliximab (Simulect);
cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf);
etanercept (Enbrel);
leflunomide (Arava);
muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
sirolimus (Rapamune); or
tacrolimus (Prograf).

Varicella virus (Chickenpox) vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccinations.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist may have additional information or suggest additional resources regarding chickenpox vaccine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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