Sarah Bennett
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that causes an itchy rash and can sometimes lead to serious complications. The chickenpox vaccine is a two-dose series of shots that protect children and adults from contracting the disease. The vaccine is recommended for children from 12 months to 12 years of age and has been widely used in the United States since 1996. While the vaccine provides lifelong protection for most people, there are concerns about waning immunity later in life. Breakthrough chickenpox infections in vaccinated individuals are typically mild, with reduced symptoms and complications.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of doses | Two doses are recommended for children, with the first dose given at 12-15 months and the second dose given at 4-6 years old. |
| Effectiveness | The vaccine provides lifelong protection for most people. A case-control study showed that one dose was 97% effective in the first year and 86% effective in the second year. From the second to eighth year, effectiveness remained stable at 81% to 86%. |
| Side effects | Mild symptoms, such as red spots, may occur in vaccinated individuals who still get chickenpox. Vaccinated people typically experience fewer or no blisters and lower fever intensity. |
| Age eligibility | The vaccine is licensed for individuals 12 months or older. |
| Alternative vaccines | Some children may receive separate vaccines for MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and varicella (chickenpox) instead of the combined MMRV vaccine. |
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What You'll Learn
The chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that causes an itchy rash and can sometimes lead to serious complications. It can be especially dangerous for babies, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. In the early 1990s, about 4 million people, mostly children, would contract chickenpox each year in the US, with up to 13,500 requiring hospitalisation and up to 150 dying annually. Since the introduction of the chickenpox vaccine in 1995, there has been a drastic improvement in the situation.
The vaccine has been thoroughly studied and is considered safe for children and adults. It has a low risk of serious reactions, and side effects are usually mild and self-limiting. These may include soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, and some individuals may experience a mild rash or temporary pain and stiffness in the joints. Severe allergic reactions are rare but can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Overall, the body of scientific evidence strongly supports the safety and efficacy of the chickenpox vaccine.
The chickenpox vaccine is recommended as a two-dose series of shots, with the first dose typically given at 12-15 months of age and the second dose administered at 4-6 years old. Children under 13 years old should receive both doses, while individuals 13 years and older who have never had chickenpox or received the vaccine should also get two doses at least 28 days apart. The vaccine is important not just for children but also for adults who have not had chickenpox, as they are at risk of serious illness if they contract the disease later in life.
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Two doses are recommended for children
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease that causes an itchy rash and can sometimes lead to serious complications. While chickenpox is usually mild in many children, it can sometimes be severe or even fatal. To protect against chickenpox, two doses of the vaccine are recommended for children.
The chickenpox vaccine has been widely used in the United States since 1996. The vaccine is given in two doses, with the first dose administered at 12-15 months and the second dose given at 4-6 years. The CDC recommends that children between 12 and 47 months old receive separate MMR and varicella vaccines unless a parent or caregiver requests the MMRV vaccine, which combines both vaccines in a single shot.
The two-dose vaccine series provides lifelong protection against chickenpox for most people. A case-control study conducted from 1997 to 2003 found that the vaccine was 97% effective in the first year after vaccination and remained stable at 81% to 86% effective from the second to eighth year. While the protection offered by the vaccine may wane over time, even those vaccinated 20 years ago are still protected from getting chickenpox, albeit to a lesser degree.
It is important to note that vaccinated individuals can still get chickenpox, but the symptoms are typically milder. Vaccinated people often experience fewer or no blisters and low or no fever, but red spots may occur. For children who are eligible for the vaccine, it is recommended that they receive the two doses to protect against chickenpox and its potential complications.
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The vaccine prevents severe illness
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It causes an itchy rash and can sometimes lead to complications. While chickenpox is usually mild, it can be serious during pregnancy, in infants under 12 months old, adolescents, adults, and people with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, people can die from chickenpox.
The best way to prevent chickenpox is to get the chickenpox vaccine. The vaccine is a two-dose series of shots that protect children and adults from chickenpox. The first dose is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old, and the second dose is recommended between the ages of 4 and 6 years old. Two doses of the vaccine provide lifelong protection against chickenpox for most people.
The chickenpox vaccine is very effective in preventing severe illness. If a vaccinated person does get chickenpox, the symptoms are usually mild. Vaccinated people often experience fewer to no blisters and low or no fever, but red spots may occur. A case-control study conducted from 1997 to 2003 showed that one dose of the vaccine was 97% effective in the first year after vaccination and 86% effective in the second year. From the second to eighth year after vaccination, the vaccine effectiveness remained stable at 81 to 86%.
In addition to preventing severe illness, the chickenpox vaccine also helps to prevent outbreaks in school settings, where students are in close contact with each other. This leads to less illness and less school time missed by students, as well as a reduced chance of exposing people who cannot get vaccinated. Overall, the chickenpox vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against severe illness and prevent the spread of chickenpox.
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Breakthrough chickenpox is usually mild
Chickenpox is usually mild but can cause serious complications in pregnant women, infants under 12 months old, adolescents, adults, and people with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, some people can develop a breakthrough chickenpox infection after being vaccinated.
Breakthrough chickenpox is an infection that occurs in a vaccinated person more than 42 days after vaccination. It is characterized by a rash that looks similar to other skin rashes, making clinical diagnosis challenging. However, laboratory PCR testing of skin lesion specimens can confirm the presence of breakthrough varicella.
Symptoms of breakthrough chickenpox are typically milder and shorter-lived compared to unvaccinated individuals. Vaccinated individuals usually experience a low-grade or no fever, fewer skin lesions (less than 50), and a shorter duration of illness. In some cases, they may exhibit red spots without any blisters.
The risk of developing breakthrough chickenpox is lower in individuals who have received two doses of the vaccine compared to those who have received only one dose. A clinical trial found that children who received two doses of the varicella vaccine were protected even ten years after vaccination. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals receive two doses of the vaccine to be fully protected.
While breakthrough chickenpox is milder, it is important to note that it is still contagious. Individuals experiencing a breakthrough infection should isolate themselves, especially from infants and those with weakened immune systems, until the rash clears up. Good hand hygiene and keeping nails clipped are also important to prevent infection from scratching.
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Vaccinated people may still get shingles
The chickenpox vaccine is highly effective at offering lifelong protection against the disease. Doctors recommend two doses of the vaccine as the best way to protect against chickenpox. Most people who get the vaccine will be protected for life and will not get chickenpox. However, in rare cases, some vaccinated people may still get a mild form of chickenpox, known as breakthrough chickenpox, which usually manifests as red spots with fewer or no blisters and low or no fever.
While the chickenpox vaccine offers strong protection against the disease, it is important to note that vaccinated individuals may still be at risk of developing shingles later in life. Shingles is a painful rash illness caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is a reactivation of the chickenpox virus that can occur decades after the initial infection or vaccination. The risk of developing shingles increases with age.
The shingles vaccine, Shingrix, is recommended for adults aged 50 and older and for people 19 and older with compromised immune systems. Shingrix is a recombinant zoster (shingles) vaccine that can effectively prevent shingles and its related complications. It is administered as a two-dose series and provides strong protection by stimulating a robust immune response.
While Shingrix is highly effective, it is important to understand that no vaccine can offer 100% protection. Some people who receive the shingles vaccine may still develop shingles, but they typically experience milder symptoms and a shorter illness. The vaccine also reduces the risk of developing postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the most common complication of shingles, which can cause chronic pain after the infection.
It is worth noting that the old shingles vaccine, Zostavax, used a weakened form of the live varicella-zoster virus. As a result, it was possible for vaccinated individuals to spread a form of the virus to others. However, Shingrix is not a live vaccine, and it uses only a small part of the virus that cannot infect the vaccinated person or transmit the virus to others. Therefore, while vaccinated people may still get shingles, the overall risk is significantly reduced, and the illness tends to be milder with a lower risk of complications.
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Frequently asked questions
The chickenpox vaccine is very effective in providing lifelong protection against infection for most people. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for children as the best way to protect against chickenpox. Most children are eligible to get their first dose at 12 months and the second dose at 4 to 6 years.
The side effects of the chickenpox vaccine are usually mild and may include soreness, redness, or swelling where the vaccine was given. Severe reactions are rare.
The chickenpox vaccine is generally safe, but some people should not get it or should wait. For example, those with HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, those receiving cancer treatment, and pregnant women should not get the vaccine.
