At What Age Should Children Get the Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. Children and adults who get chickenpox develop an itchy rash with small fluid-filled blisters. The rash starts on the face, chest, and back and spreads to the entire body. It is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, loss of appetite, and fatigue.
Chickenpox is usually a mild disease, but in some people, it can cause serious complications like skin infections, dehydration, pneumonia, encephalitis (inflammation in the brain), and even death.
A varicella vaccine (chickenpox vaccine) is available. It is a safe and effective way of preventing chickenpox. Please continue reading to find out at what age children should get the chickenpox vaccine.
How common is chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus infection)?
The varicella vaccine became available in the US in 1995. Before that, chickenpox was quite common. The chickenpox vaccine now prevents approximately 3.5 million infections, up to 9,000 hospital admissions, and about 100 fatalities yearly.
Who needs chickenpox vaccination?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the varicella vaccine for children. Adolescents and adults who were not vaccinated during childhood and have never had chickenpox should also get the varicella vaccine.
At what age should children get the chickenpox vaccine?
The CDC recommends that children get the first dose of the chickenpox vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. The second dose can be given earlier but should be at least 3 months after the previous dose.
Do older children and adults need the varicella vaccine?
Most children receive the chickenpox vaccine as part of routine immunizations during childhood. Adults and adolescents (anyone over the age of 13 years) should get varicella vaccines if they were not vaccinated during childhood and have never had chickenpox. In particular, the following people should make sure they are vaccinated against the chickenpox virus:
- Healthcare workers
- Staff at nursing homes
- Care providers to people with weakened immune systems
- Childcare workers
- Teachers
- College students
- Military personnel
- Inmates and staff at correctional institutions
- Adolescents and adults who live with children
- Non-pregnant women of childbearing age
- International travelers
Who should not get the chickenpox vaccine?
People who have previously had a life-threatening allergic reaction to the chickenpox vaccine should not get another dose. Also, those with a severe allergic reaction to inactive ingredients in the chickenpox vaccine, such as gelatin, should not get it. People with serious reactions to the antibiotic neomycin also should not get the varicella vaccine.
Pregnant women should not get the chickenpox vaccine until after they have delivered. Women should not get pregnant within one month of getting the varicella vaccine.
The following people should talk to their doctor before they get the chickenpox vaccine:
- Anyone with a weakened immune system, HIV, or cancer
- Those taking steroid medications
- People who have recently received a blood transfusion or blood products
- Those with family members who have immune system problems
People who are moderately or severely ill should wait until they are better before getting the chickenpox and other vaccines. However, a very mild case of a flu-like illness should not prevent you from getting vaccines. If you have questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
What are the different types of chickenpox vaccine?
Two chickenpox vaccines are available in the United States—Varivax® and ProQuad®.
Children, adolescents, and adults can get the vaccine called Varivax. It only contains the varicella vaccine virus and protects against one disease, i.e., chickenpox.
Children between the ages of 12 months and 12 years can get the vaccine called ProQuad. It is a combination vaccine to prevent chickenpox and three other diseases. It protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella and is also called the MMRV vaccine. This is the one generally used in hospitals.
Which chickenpox vaccine should I choose for my child?
As mentioned above, the varicella vaccine is given in two doses to children—the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. Children can get either of the two chickenpox vaccines—Varivax (chickenpox only) or ProQuad (combination MMRV vaccine).
You should know that children who get the first dose of MMRV between the ages of 12 to 23 months can develop febrile seizures. While uncommon and not harmful, the seizures can be frightening for parents. If you are worried about febrile seizures, talk to your child’s doctor about giving your child the varicella vaccine separately from the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.
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