Varicella virus vaccine varivax

Merck does not review or control the content at the site to which this link connects. Merck makes no representation with respect to the content of any non-Merck site. Skip to content. Close Selected Safety Information for VARIVAX Do not administer VARIVAX to individuals with: a history of anaphylactic or severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine including neomycin and gelatin or to a previous dose of a varicella-containing vaccine; immunosuppressed or immunodeficient individuals; an active febrile illness; active untreated tuberculosis; or those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 3 months.

Selected Safety Information for VARIVAX Do not administer VARIVAX to individuals with: a history of anaphylactic or severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine including neomycin and gelatin or to a previous dose of a varicella-containing vaccine; immunosuppressed or immunodeficient individuals; an active febrile illness; active untreated tuberculosis; or those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next 3 months. Vaccination should be deferred in individuals with a family history of immunodeficiency until it can be confirmed the individual is immunocompetent.

Vaccine recipients should avoid close contact with high-risk individuals susceptible to varicella due to possible risk of transmission. Varicella vaccine virus transmission may occur between vaccine recipients and contacts susceptible to varicella including healthy individuals. Other reported adverse reactions in all age groups include: varicella-like rash injection site and varicella-like rash generalized. Effectiveness over time of varicella vaccine. Ten year follow-up of healthy children who received one or two injections of varicella vaccine.

Pediatr Infect Dis J. Varicella vaccine effectiveness worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Top of Page. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Vaccines and Preventable Diseases. Chickenpox , or varicella, is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus VZV. It causes an itchy, blister-like rash that appears first on the chest, back, and face, and then spreads over the entire body. Other typical symptoms include fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, and headache. Chickenpox can be serious, especially in babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and people with a weakened immune system.

Some people who get chickenpox get a painful rash called shingles also known as herpes zoster later in life. There are two chickenpox vaccines approved for use in the United States: one single antigen vaccine and one combination vaccine.

Both vaccines contain live attenuated weakened varicella-zoster virus. Learn more about live, attenuated vaccines. CDC recommends two doses of chickenpox vaccine for children, adolescents, and adults who have never had chickenpox and were never vaccinated. Children should receive their first dose of chickenpox vaccine at age 12 to 15 months and a second dose at age 4 to 6 years.

The second dose can be given at an earlier age if it is at least 3 months after the first dose. People 13 years of age and older who have never been vaccinated or never had chickenpox should get 2 doses, at least 28 days apart. They can answer questions and offer advice based on your specific health needs.

For more information, see Who should get chickenpox vaccine. There is one formula for Varivax:. ProQuad : FDA approved this vaccine in for use in children ages 1 through 12 years of age. It protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella MMRV. More information about MMRV vaccine. There are two formulas for ProQuad:. Chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective at preventing chickenpox.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. The most common side effects are usually mild and go away on their own. Severe allergic reactions following vaccination are rare, but can be life threatening. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. People should talk to their healthcare provider about receiving the chickenpox vaccine if they:.

In some cases, the healthcare provider might decide to postpone chickenpox vaccination to a future visit. More information about contraindications and precautions.

Healthcare providers and vaccine manufacturers are required by law to report certain adverse events following vaccination to VAERS; patients and caregivers can also submit reports. Chickenpox vaccine has been shown to be safe and well tolerated. The findings from many vaccine safety monitoring systems and years of studies have shown that chickenpox vaccines have a favorable safety profile—the body of scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports their safety.