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The chickenpox vaccine contains a weakened form of the virus and is effective in preventing chickenpox, which can cause complications in adults. The vaccine can also prevent shingles, but a separate vaccine is recommended for adults over 60. The vaccine is not recommended for those with certain allergies or medical conditions.
The chickenpox vaccine or varicella vaccine is a relatively recent addition to the vaccines available in many parts of the world. It was first used in the United States in the mid-1990s and is now used in many countries. It contains a very weak form of the chickenpox virus that helps the body become immune to further exposure to the virus. Researchers estimate that it is effective about 90 percent of the time in preventing chickenpox, although effectiveness may decrease over time and the injection may need to be repeated (if you don’t develop an active case of chickenpox) every ten years or so.
Chickenpox is not known to be a terrible disease in most children. It’s certainly uncomfortable, but most children who get it will have a relatively normal course of the disease and won’t have any problems. Some children can develop secondary infections from chicken pox sores, and there are some who can develop dangerous inflammation of the brain or things like pneumonia. Chickenpox can cause death, although this is rare.
The risk of complications increases as people get older, and adults are known to have a harder time with the disease than children. This would suggest that people, who have not had a case of chickenpox before reaching adulthood, should probably get the chickenpox vaccine. It’s not just a child’s disease.
One of the hidden dangers of the chickenpox virus is that it can create shingles in the elderly or those with compromised immune systems. About 20 percent of people with shingles can develop an extremely painful condition called postherpetic neuralgia, which can take a long time to heal. Therefore, preventing chickenpox infection may be wise from a long-term perspective.
However, there is a difference between chickenpox and the shingles vaccine. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults over the age of 60 get the shingles vaccine, called Zostavax®. This vaccination was approved in 2006 and is more effective in preventing shingles especially in older populations. The chickenpox vaccine, however, can still cause some prevention of shingles in adults younger than 60.
The schedule for administering the chickenpox vaccine can vary. Some doctors recommend giving the first injection at about one year. Another shot is given between four and six years of age. Many doctors now recommend a booster injection when children are about eleven or twelve years old. Some people will have mild reactions to the shot and may develop a few chicken pox blisters, especially with the first shot, as the virus is alive, albeit weaker than normal. Mild fever and/or pain at the injection site are the most common reactions.
There are some people who shouldn’t get the chickenpox vaccine. If people are allergic to neomycin or gelatin, they could have a severe allergic reaction to the shot, although a gelatin-free form is now available. People undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, who are pregnant, have moderate illness, are on steroids, or have autoimmune conditions such as lupus or HIV also skip this vaccine.
