Varicella (Chickenpox)
What is it?
Varicella, or chickenpox, is a very contagious childhood disease. Your child can easily get chickenpox if someone with chickenpox coughs or sneezes near them or if they touch the fluid from a chickenpox blister. Thankfully, there’s a vaccine to protect against chickenpox.
Why is the vaccine important?
Chickenpox infections may seem like a small nuisance, but some chickenpox cases can cause severe complications. About 1 out of 1,000 children infected with chickenpox will develop severe pneumonia (infection of the lungs) or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Progress
The chickenpox vaccine was licensed in the U.S. in 1995. Since then, the number of hospitalizations and deaths from varicella has declined by more than 90%. Before the vaccine, there were an average of 4 million cases and over 10,500 hospitalizations as a result of chickenpox in the U.S. each year.
Chickenpox is not a rite of passage for children; it’s a potentially dangerous and always uncomfortable disease that can be prevented. As parents and caregivers, we don’t have to watch our children endure a week of itchy skin and fever, possibly resulting in life-long scars and complications that could be deadly. We can get them vaccinated, instead.
Vaccine Recommendations
Chickenpox vaccine is recommended for all children. It is given as a two-dose series: 1 dose at 12 – 15 months and a second dose at 4 – 6 years. Everyone 13 years and older who has never had chickenpox should also get 2 doses, given 4 – 8 weeks apart.
Side Effects
Vaccines, like any medicine, can cause side effects (also known as "adverse reactions"). Most side effects are mild and go away within a few days. Common side effects include fever, headache, or body aches. They can also include redness where a shot was given and tiredness. Side effects are normal. They can even be a good sign that the immune system is working to build antibodies that will fight off future infections!
Remember, vaccines are continuously studied. They are also closely monitored for safety. Research continues to show that vaccines are safe, and the benefits outweigh the risks. The risk of a severe allergic reaction to a vaccine is rare (about 1 in 1 million). The choice not to vaccinate is ultimately more risky. Not vaccinating may lead to catching a potentially deadly disease.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about vaccine side effects. In the event of a serious allergic reaction, call 9-1-1.
