| Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus and it is a common childhood illness that usually only causes mild symptoms, but can lead to serious complications, especially in young children and adults. About 12,000 people each year are hospitalized for complications of having chickenpox and about 100 of these people die.
Your child should receive one dose of the chickenpox vaccine (Varivax) after his first birthday. Children over twelve and adults need to receive two doses one month apart.
If you aren't sure if you or your child has had chickenpox in the past, then either the vaccine may be given, or it is also possible to do a blood test to check for immunity.
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| The chickenpox vaccine is about 85-90% effective in preventing chickenpox in children who are immunized. |
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The chickenpox vaccine is about 85-90% effective in preventing chickenpox in children who are immunized and it is 100% effective at preventing a moderate or severe case of chickenpox. So, while it is still possible that your child will get chickenpox after getting the vaccine, it is usually a very mild case, with a lower fever, less blisters and a quicker recovery than a child who wasn't immunized.
It isn't yet known how long immunity will last in children who have received the chickenpox vaccine, but current studies show immunity lasts at least twenty years, since people who have received the vaccine twenty years ago are still immune. It is not currently believed that children will need a booster dose of the chickenpox vaccine, but studies are continuing to be done.
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| postexposure immunization can prevent your child from getting chickenpox |
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If given soon after an exposure (and preferably with 72 hours) to someone with chickenpox, the chickenpox vaccine may help to prevent your child (if he hasn't received the vaccine yet) from developing chickenpox.
Children who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin, the antibiotic neomycin or to a previous dose of chickenpox vaccine should not receive this vaccine. You should also not receive chickenpox vaccine if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant in the month after receiving the vaccine.
Mild problems or side effects that can occur after receiving the chickenpox vaccine include soreness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, and mild rash, which can occur for up to a month after the vaccine was given. It is rarely possible for other people to catch a mild chickenpox infection from being in contact with this rash. Moderate problems can include febrile seizures. It is very rare for someone to have a serious problem after receiving the chickenpox vaccine, but side effects can also include acute cerebellar ataxia, pneumonia, and possibly (but unproven) severe brain reactions or a low blood and/or platelet count.
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| Are your children's immunizations up to date? Use our Vaccine Schedule program to print a customized immunization schedule for your child. |
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After having chickenpox, the chickenpox virus stays dormant in your body. In some children, it can become reactivated and cause shingles. The main symptoms of shingles is a rash on one side of the body that begins as a cluster of red bumps. These bumps then change into small blisters or vesicles that soon crust over. Your child may also feel itchy, but will otherwise be well. The rash usually continues to develop for a few days and then completely crust over and go away in about seven to ten days without treatment.
You can also get shingles after receiving the chickenpox vaccine, but it appears to be much less common than occurs in children that have a natural chickenpox infection. So decreasing your child's chance of getting shingles may be another good reason for getting the chickenpox vaccine.
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