Side Effects of the Varivax Booster Shot

Varivax is the brand name for the varicella virus vaccine, more commonly known as the chickenpox vaccine. It is recommended for children 12 months and older as well as adults who have never had chickenpox.

Dosage

• For children ages 12 months to 12 years, doctors may prescribe a second dose of the vaccine to be given at least 3 months after the initial dose. For people ages 13 years and older, vaccine manufacturer Merck recommends a second dose 4 to 8 weeks after the initial dose.

Common side effects

• The most commonly reported side effects are pain, swelling, itching or redness at the injection site, a high fever, irritability and a mild chicken-pox-like rash.

Other side effects

• Less common side effects Merck reports are tingling of the skin and shingles. Shingles is a painful rash on one half of the body that is also caused by the chickenpox virus. Other possible side effects are cough, stuffy nose and sore throat, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, headache, swollen glands, and muscle and joint aches.

Rare side effects

• Rare, serious side effects include difficulty walking, severe skin disorders, skin infection, brain swelling, stroke, pneumonia and seizures. According to Merck, it is unknown if these rare side effects are related to the vaccine. If you or your child experiences these types of symptoms or exhibits any other unusual behavior, such as severe drowsiness or sensitivity to light, you should seek immediate medical attention.

Allergic reaction

• Occasionally, people can have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include wheezing or shortness of breath, or a rash or hives shortly after receiving the vaccine. Again, you should seek immediate medical attention for you or your child if you experience these types of symptoms. To avoid an allergic reaction, review the ingredients. The active ingredient is a weakened form of the chickenpox virus and the inactive ingredients are sucrose, hydrolyzed gelatin, sodium chloride, monosodium L-glutamate, sodium phosphate dibasic, potassium phosphate monobasic, potassium chloride, residual components of MRC-5 cells including DNA and protein, sodium phosphate monobasic, EDTA, neomycin and fetal bovine serum.

Reporting reactions

• The federal government has a system set up to collect reports of adverse reactions to vaccines. Either patients or their doctors can file the report with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Call [phone] or go to vaers.hhs.gov.