Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccination
Chickenpox vaccine is the best way to prevent chickenpox. Vaccination not only protects vaccinated persons, it also reduces the risk for exposure in the community for persons unable to be vaccinated because of illness or other conditions, including those who may be at greater risk for severe disease. While no vaccine is 100% effective in preventing disease, the chickenpox vaccine is very effective: about 8 to 9 of every 10 people who are vaccinated are completely protected from chickenpox. In addition, the vaccine almost always prevents against severe disease. If a vaccinated person does get chickenpox, it is usually a very mild case lasting only a few days and involving fewer skin lesions (usually less than 50), mild or no fever, and few other symptoms.
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- Overview Posted Nov 2011
Symptoms, how it's spread, treatment and prevention, etc. - Varicella: Unprotected Story
Parents tell true story of how chickenpox sickened their child and impacted their family. - Chickenpox Fact Sheet for Kids
- Photos of Chickenpox
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - Chickenpox: The disease, the vaccine and the parties
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - Travelers' information
Risks for travelers, preventive measures for travelers, etc.
- Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine Q & A
Who should be vaccinated? How effective is the vaccine in preventing disease? Is there a test to determine whether or not I have had chickenpox? etc. - Vaccination Options for Preventing Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella
For Parents and caregivers: Fact Sheet and Q&As - How important is it for adults to be vaccinated against chickenpox?
- Side Effects
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): Varicella and MMRV
- State Vaccine Requirements
- Varicella
prevention mandates for day care & school entry
- What if we stopped vaccinating for this disease?
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- CDC's Vaccine Safety website
- Questions about Multiple Vaccinations and the Immune System
- Are vaccines safe?
FAQs on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia web site
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Varicella
- Collecting Varicella Zoster Virus (Chickenpox & Shingles) Specimens
- Varicella Clinical Overview
- Assessing Immunity to Varicella
- Managing Persons at Risk for Severe Varicella
Vaccine Recommendations
- Vaccination Options for Preventing Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella
For Providers: Fact Sheet and Q&As Posted Oct 2009 - ACIP recommendations
- Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations
[PDF-55KB, 1 page] - Contraindications
- Package inserts
(ProQuad, Varivax, and more package inserts...) Posted Feb 2010
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
Vaccine Questions and Answers
- Vaccine specific
- Healthcare workers
- Pregnancy
- Storage and handling
- Eligibility - who should receive vaccine
- Recommendations for those at high risk
- Ask the Experts
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition)
References and Resources
- Recommendations,
references, and resources from IAC
- Pink Book's chapter on Varicella (Updated April 2011)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 12th Edition - VARIVAX Pregnancy Registry
- Travelers Health: Yellow Book
Surveillance
- Surveillance manual's chapter on Varicella
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Conducting Varicella Surveillance
- Strategies for the Control and Investigation of Varicella Outbreaks
- Surveillance worksheets
- Varicella Surveillance Worksheet [PDF-281KB, 3 pages]
- Varicella Death Investigation Worksheet [PDF-169KB, 4 pages]
- Varicella Outbreak Reporting Worksheet [PDF-188KB, 1 page]
- Varicella Surveillance Worksheet
- Varicella Active Surveillance Project (VASP)
Provider Education
- Slide set: Overview of VZV Disease & Vaccination for Healthcare Professionals
[PPT - 1.49MB, 56 slides] Updated July 2010; Posted January 2011
Materials for Patients
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Disease Basics: Chickenpox
2-page fact sheet describes symptoms of infection as well as benefits and risks of vaccination - Chickenpox (Varicella): Questions and Answers [PDF-92KB, 3 pages]
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (http://www.vaccineinformation.org) Posted Jan 2009 - Varicela - Las vacunas y las enfermedades que previenen (in Spanish)
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Content last reviewed on June 29, 2011
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases