CHICKENPOX VACCINE - CHICKENPOX VACCINATION - VARICELLA VACCINE - VARICELLA VACCINATION - ADULT IMMUNIZATION - ADULT VACCINE

What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by the highly contagious varicella zoster virus. It is spread by coughing and sneezing, and by direct contact with skin lesions. Chickenpox can lead to severe complications, including bacterial infection of the skin from the lesions, swelling of the brain and pneumonia. Adults are at greater risk for severe complications from chickenpox than children.

Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus can reactivate later in life to cause a painful condition called shingles, marked by a blistering rash.

What are the symptoms of chickenpox?
Most, but not all, infected individuals have a fever, which develops just before or when the rash (itchy blisters on the body) appears. A person with chickenpox is contagious one to two days before the rash appears and until all the blisters have formed scabs. Chickenpox typically develops 10 to 21 days after exposure.

Which adults should get vaccinated?
All adults who have never had chickenpox or never received the chickenpox vaccine should get vaccinated. Two vaccinations will be needed at least 28 days apart. 

Certain people should not get vaccinated:

• People who have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine, to gelatin or to the antibiotic neomycin
• Those who are moderately or severely ill at the time the vaccination is scheduled
• Pregnant women (women should not get pregnant for one month after getting chickenpox vaccine)

The following groups of people should check with their health care provider about whether they should get vaccinated:

• Those with HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system
• People being treated with drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids, for two weeks or longer
• People with any kind of cancer and those being treated for cancer with radiation or drugs
• Those who recently had a transfusion or were given other blood products

Varicella vaccine is made with live, but weakened, varicella virus. It prevents chickenpox in 70 to 90 percent of people who receive it. In the small number of people who are vaccinated, but still get chickenpox, the vaccine lessens the severity of their illness.

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Chickenpox (varicella) Information