Chicken Pox (Varicella) vaccine

Chicken pox is a disease that is more annoying than serious. It can be fatal for children with leukaemia, suppressed immune systems, or those whose mothers had contracted the disease just before delivering the baby. Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing this disease.Giving chicken pox vaccination to children is a must. This vaccine can help to prevent this disorder in children to a greater extent. Coping with this disease is not easy and therefore, it is better to get the child vaccinated against it. In this articleWhat are the benefits of the chicken pox vaccine?How is the vaccine administered?What are the side effects of chicken pox vaccination?Is chicken pox vaccination effective?What to do if the chicken pox vaccination is missed?Do older children need chicken pox vaccination?Can pregnant women take chicken pox vaccination?When is chicken pox vaccination not advisable?What are the benefits of the chicken pox vaccine?Chicken pox is a disease that is more annoying than serious. Sometimes complications like bacterial infections and Reyes disease may develop. It can be fatal for children with leukaemia, suppressed immune systems, or those whose mothers had contracted the disease just before delivering the baby.How is the vaccine administered?Vaccination is the most effective way of preventing this disease. The vaccine is usually administered at 12-18 months to coincide with the MMR vaccination. However, it may be given as early as nine months. While a single vaccination is adequate for children, a two-dose schedule is recommended for adolescents and adults.What are the side effects of chicken pox vaccination?Sever side-effects are very rare in case of this vaccination. The child may experience some common symptoms like pain or redness near the area where the shot was given. Symptoms like swelling or rash may also appear near that area.Is chicken pox vaccination effective?Although, chicken pox vaccine is very effective, there are 2% chances of the vaccinated child getting affected with this disorder. But due to the effect of the vaccination even if the child gets affected the symptoms will be less severe. The blisters may be milder and may heal faster. What to do if the chicken pox vaccination is missed?If chicken pox vaccination is not given to a child as per the schedule due to some reasons, you must consult a paediatrician. Usually, if the vaccination is missed it can be given any time but it should be given after consulting a paediatrician. He or she is the right person to guide you in case of the missed vaccinations.Do older children need chicken pox vaccination?Children who are above 13 years of age who have never received any vaccination for chicken pox may require two doses of this vaccination. There should be a gap of at least 28 days between the two doses. Before giving this vaccination, it is a must to talk to the paediatrician and seek his or her advice.Can pregnant women take chicken pox vaccination?Chicken pox vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy as its effect on the unborn baby is unknown. If a woman has taken chicken pox vaccination, she is advised to wait for at least one month before conceiving.When is chicken pox vaccination not advisable?In rare cases some individuals may show severe allergic reaction to chicken pox vaccination. The next dose of such vaccine may not be advisable in such people. It is not advisable to take this vaccination even in case of any illness when the vaccination is scheduled. This vaccination can be taken when the person recovers completely from the illness.It is also not advisable to take this vaccination if the person is suffering from cancer or undergoing a treatment for cancer, he or she is suffering from HIV or AIDS or any other immune deficiency disease. Chicken pox vaccination should not be taken if the person is taking drugs affecting immune system or has undergone blood transfusion.