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Reactions to the Varicella Vaccine

Varicella vaccine protects people against chickenpox. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends two separate doses of varicella vaccine for all people born after 1980 and all health-care workers regardless of age. The shots generally produces no side effects beyond some irritation at the site of the injection while providing almost complete immunity against varicella infection.

  1. Immunity

    • Nearly 100 percent of people who receive two doses of varicella vaccine have complete protection against severe chickenpox. According to the CDC, people who receive varicella vaccine and still contract chickenpox develop fewer than 50 lesions, have no fever or a very low one, and recover quickly.

    Common Side Effects

    • Between 20 percent and 33 percent of people who have received varicella vaccine have had subsequent soreness, redness and swelling at the location of the shot. Another 10 percent of vaccine recipients have developed a mild fever. A final side effect that some patients might see is a rash that has some of the characteristics of chickenpox and which can prove infectious to people who come in close contact with the affected individual. The rash can appear up to a month following vaccination.

    Rarer Side Effects

    • About 0.00001 percent of people who received varicella vaccine experienced seizures as a result of having a very high fever. Pneumonia has also occurred very rarely among people vaccinated against the varicella virus.

    Allergy

    • Fewer than 1 in every 100,000 people vaccinated against the varicella virus have had a serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. The symptoms of anaphylaxis include difficulty breathing, wheezing, slurred speech, confusion, dizziness, hives and heart palpitations.

    Contraindications/Precautions

    • Pregnant women, people with an allergy to the drug neomycin (e.g., Neo-Fradin from X Gen) and people who have an active bacterial or viral illness cannot receive varicella vaccine. Anyone whose immune systems has been compromised because of cancer, pharmaceutical therapy or HIV/AIDS should discuss the safety of the varicella vaccine before getting a shot because the vaccine contains weakened varicella virus.

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