Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine

As recently as the early 1990s, getting chickenpox in the U.S. was extremely common. Each year, it affected more than 4 million people, with up to 13,000 requiring hospitalization. Since the chickenpox vaccine was introduced in 1995, experts estimate that vaccines have spared 238,000 people from hospitalization and 2,000 from death.

Advocate Health Care offers the chickenpox vaccine and other routine vaccinations in multiple convenient locations throughout the Chicago metro area. Our preventive care team provides comprehensive services to keep you and your family healthy and safe.

What is the chickenpox vaccine?

The chickenpox vaccine, also know as the varicella vaccine, is an immunization to protect children and adults from the varicella-zoster virus. The varicella-zoster virus, commonly known as chickenpox, causes an itchy rash with fluid-filled blisters. People may also have a fever, loss of appetite and headaches.

In many cases, chickenpox is mild and people recover well at home. But sometimes, chickenpox can be severe and even life-threatening. The risk of chickenpox is highest in infants, older adults and immunocompromised people.

Is varicella the same as chickenpox?

Varicella-zoster is a contagious virus that can lead to chickenpox. After you’ve had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus remains in your body in an inactive state. If it becomes reactivated during adulthood, you could develop shingles, a much more severe infection. Doctors recommend shingles vaccination to lower your risk of this happening.

Chickenpox vaccine age

Doctors recommend babies and children get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine at ages:

• 12 to 15 months
• 4 to 6 years

Children older than 6 years who never received the chickenpox vaccine should get two doses three months apart. Everyone 13 years old and older should get two doses of the chickenpox vaccine one to two months apart.

Types of chickenpox vaccine

The FDA has approved two types of chickenpox vaccines:

• ProQuad® contains varicella along with the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. It’s also called MMRV. This vaccine can be given to children ages 12 months to 12 years old.
• Varivax® contains varicella only and is safe for anyone 12 months and older.

Should adults get the chickenpox vaccine?

Yes, experts recommend that adults who have never been immunized or never had chickenpox get both doses of the chickenpox vaccine. Chickenpox is highly contagious, and the vaccine doesn’t just protect you. It protects others around you, including those who may be at high risk.

Chickenpox immunization is important for everyone, but it’s especially critical for:

• Adults living with children
• Caregivers of immunocompromised or elderly people
• Childcare workers and teachers
• Health care providers
• Military personnel
• Nursing home residents and workers
• People needing travel vaccinations
• Staff and inmates of correctional institutions
• Women of childbearing age who are not pregnant

You may also get the varicella vaccine after exposure to chickenpox if you’ve never been immunized. Health care providers may give you the vaccine within three to five days of exposure to prevent serious illness or keep you from getting sick.

Can immunocompromised people get the chickenpox vaccine?

The chickenpox vaccine is a live vaccine, meaning it contains a weakened version of the varicella-zoster virus. There’s a risk that live vaccines could lead to infection in people with a suppressed or compromised immune system.

Depending on your health and overall risks, your health care provider may still recommend getting the chickenpox vaccine if you don’t have immunity against the disease. Talk with your health care provider if you:

• Have cancer
• Have HIV
• Take low-dose steroids

Varicella vaccine side effects

Side effects after the chickenpox vaccine are rare but do happen. Any side effects are typically mild and go away within one to two days. You or your child may experience:

• Fatigue
• Fever or chills
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Soreness, swelling or redness at the injection site

Do I need two varicella vaccines if I had chickenpox?

You usually don’t need the varicella vaccine if you have had chickenpox before. Your provider may use a blood test to check for antibodies that tell them whether you’ve had the virus. If you were born before 1980, your provider may assume you’ve had chickenpox before and not recommend the vaccine, depending on your overall health.

Can a child still get chickenpox if vaccinated?

Yes, children who have had the chickenpox vaccine can still get chickenpox. But they usually get a much milder case of the disease and heal quickly.

Can you get the varicella vaccine with other vaccinations?

It’s safe to get the varicella vaccine at the same time as other vaccinations. However, your provider may advise against getting more than two live vaccines at the same time. Children under 13 often get the varicella vaccine at the same time as the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, another live vaccine.